Backing for increased border fencing gains steam


Mike Sunnucks
The Business Journal



Support is growing for construction of new security fences and other barriers between Mexico and the U.S.


Arizona Republican Congressmen Rick Renzi and Trent Franks and GOP gubernatorial hopeful Don Goldwater support constructing border fences and other security infrastructure to help control the border.
That would include substantial fence construction along the Arizona-Mexico border since the state is a prime entry point into the U.S. for illegal immigrants, Mexican drug cartels and crystal meth dealers as well black market goods and the illegal sex trade.

Franks, who represents the West Valley and Kingman, backs a border fence proposal put forth by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter. Hunter wants to put up new fences, security checkpoints and ports of entry from San Diego to Brownsville, Texas to help curtail illegal immigration and smuggling into the country. The Hunter plan also looks to tighten controls to reduce visa overstays and bolsters worker identification requirements. Franks is a top co-sponsor to the bill.

Renzi is a leading advocate of building walls, fences and constructing other high-tech security in urban areas along the Mexican border and in Arizona where much of the illegal crossings are occurring.
Renzi, who represents much or rural Arizona, Friday told The Business Journal that half of all the drugs coming into the U.S. are being smuggled into Arizona. But Renzi said it would be too costly and not effective to build a wall or fence along the entire 2,000 mile U.S. Mexican border. Instead, he prefers focused, high-tech, high-security fencing in key crossing regions similar to what Israel has been building along the West Bank to keep out terrorists and suicide bombers. Renzi favors double fencing backed up by electronic sensors and other technology in high-traffic crossing areas and known smuggling and drug routes.

The border fence concept also has support from Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, a Republican, who has also cited the Israeli example. There are worries that Al Qaeda or another terrorist group will use the porous Arizona-Mexican border as an entry point into the U.S. for a domestic attack.

Goldwater said Friday he also supports fences, walls and other security upgrades to help control the border.
"I think it's imperative," said Goldwater, a party activist looking to unseat Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano next year.

Conservative state Rep. Russell Pearce, who is flirting with run for Congress in the East Valley, has also backed construction of a border wall.

Critics say such projects will be too costly and will ultimately not keep illegals, drug cartels and others from crossing the Mexican border, which runs from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean.

Immigration and border security are top economic, security and political issues.

Napolitano has been critical of the Bush administration on the border front saying the federal government fails to dedicate enough resources to the matter. Conservatives have criticized the governor for not backing get-tough proposals related to illegal immigration and hope to make it an election year issue in 2006.
The governor has been focusing on border issues but does not support new fence proposals put forward by Republicans.

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Mike Sunnucks The Business Journal

A new poll shows Republican prospects in the 2006 Arizona governor's race are not as bad as many business leaders and political insiders had thought. The survey by Zogby International and the Wall Street Journal show Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano in a dead-heat with Republican Don Goldwater.

The Zogby/WSJ poll shows Napolitano with 47 percent of those surveyed and Goldwater with 45 percent. That spread is well within the poll's 4 percent margin of error and goes against conventional wisdom that Napolitano is a clear favorite for re-election.

Goldwater is the nephew of late U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater. His résumé includes working as a financial consultant in the private sector and serving as special events director for the Arizona Department of Administration. He also serves on the board of directors of the conservative Goldwater Institute think tank. A late August poll showed the conservative Goldwater ahead of Napolitano by 1 percentage point but also within the margin of error.

Napolitano leads other possible GOP challengers in the Zogby/Poll but Republicans hopes are buoyed by the fact that the governor gets no higher than 47 to 48 percent in potential matches with former Federal Highway Administration director Mary Peters, state Senate President Ken Bennett, former state Senate president John Greene and Marilyn Quayle (the wife of former vice president Dan Quayle).

Napolitano leads Peters (47-32); Bennett (47-36); Quayle (48-39) and Greene (47-33). The fact that Napolitano tops out at 47 and 48 percent against opponents with very low name recognition buoys Republican hopes. "She's hit a ceiling," said Nathan Sproul, a Republican lobbyist and campaign consultant.

Sproul said most of the undecided voters in the surveys are Republicans and they will likely trend towards the GOP challenger next year. Republicans have a 140,000-voter registration edge in the state. In the Zogby survey, Napolitano does well with Hispanics, urbanites, singles and those without strong religious beliefs.. Goldwater and other Republicans are more popular with Protestants, married couples with children, and investors.

Napolitano enjoys strong approval ratings in other polls and has also made inroads with business leaders in downtown Phoenix and within the state 's technology sectors. A number of top Republicans, including Scottsdale Congressman J.D. Hayworth, have opted not to challenge Napolitano. However, Republicans -- including Bennett, Hayworth and Peters -- have been critical of the governor on immigration and border security. Sproul said Napolitano is vulnerable on the immigration front and her camp should be worried about that issue and the poll numbers.

The GOP points to Napolitano's opposition to a voter-approved measure that denies welfare benefits to illegals; her vetoes of several measures aimed at expanding that law and a possible state request for federal disaster aid to help with border problems.

Hayworth blasted the governor on the latter matter, saying she was trying to get federal disaster money when it should be going to hurricane- damaged Gulf Coast states.

Napolitano spokeswoman Jeanine L'Ecuyer said it's too early to put much stock in polls, with more than a year remaining before the election. L'Ecuyer said voters will decide next year's race based on the direction the state is going in terms of not only immigration and the border but also education, the economy and the fiscal health of the state.

The state's economy and fiscal situation has improved since Napolitano took office in 2003. Democrats will credit that to the governor's leadership while the GOP sees Bush administration tax cuts as the cause for the state's economic rebound.

Napolitano has gotten the best of the GOP on some key issues during her first three years in office, gaining approval and funding for all-day kindergarten, protecting education and health care programs from spending cuts and signing business-backed tax cuts that resulted in Intel locating a new computer chip plant in Chandler.

The GOP also hopes to bite into Napolitano's re-election efforts next year by turning out conservative voters who back possible ballot questions banning gay marriage and increasing penalties against employers who hire illegal immigrants.

Goldwater could not be reached for comment.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Don Goldwater is sending a very clear message that there will be some major changes when he takes the Governor's chair away from Janet Napolitano.


During the Sept. 19 meeting of the District 4 Republican's Goldwater took strong opposition to Napolitano's handing of illegal immigration and border problems as a Federal issue. "It isn't just a federal issue, it is a state issue and we should be handling it at the state level," he charged.



He emphasized the 4,000 illegals are coming across the Arizona/Mexico border on a daily basis, are costing Arizona taxpayers an annual $1.8 billion in education, incarceration, and medical maintenance. He added that every Arizona legal household is paying $700 per year for illegal immigrant's maintenance. He also noted that according to reports by the Phoenix and Mesa Police Department 80% of Arizona's criminal activities are created by illegals.


As Governor, Goldwater promises to bring a halt to the current invasion of illegals by putting National Guard, the Minutemen, the Arizona Rangers, and other volunteer groups on the border to be the "eyes and ears for law enforcement." He said surveillance equipment is available to help border volunteers to see them coming.



"If fences don't work, why do we have check points? Fences do work," he said, noting that fences will be placed in strategic locations along our Southern border to help stop the current border overrun.


He also said that "Policy 40 has got to stop or the state must stop funding cities." He explained that Policy 40 refers to city officials ordering local law enforcement not to interfere with illegals. "This has got to stop. People are angry that illegals are taking their jobs," he charged.


Goldwater called the 9-11 attack his generations Pearl Harbor and that the nation must stand strong on border and security issues. Every great country such as the Roman and Greek empires have fallen because they couldn't control their borders, he warned.


He said:

Arizona businesses have got to clean up their act by making sure that their employees have Green Cards.

Students must have birth certificates and medical records to enter Arizona schools.

The M13 gangs, made up of illegal Salvadorians, are forcing other illegals into their violence prone gangs

"Anchor babies" - babies born in the United States of women of different origin - are putting a tremendous stress on our medical and financial systems.

Free tuition to Arizona universities must stop for illegal immigrants.

The money wired back to Mexico by illegal aliens constitutes the largest economic engine in Northern Mexico.

Arizona has lost 77 border hospitals and medical offices because of the financial strain of caring for illegals that have less than life-threatening needs. "An ear ache is not a life threatening disease," he charged.

"When in Mexico, Americans must abide by Mexican law. Yet we are called the most uncaring people in the world if we want someone's identification."

Property taxes should be kept in accordance with growth. "People are paying higher taxes than ever before," he charged.

A user tax should replace the current income taxes.

He was not raised in the belief of gay marriages.

Gun control means he has a lock on his gun cabinet.

To accomplish his proposals, Goldwater said voters need to replace Democratic Attorney General Terry Goddard with Republican AG candidate Bill Montgomery, and keep Republican Senator Jon Kyl in Congress.

As Goldwater addressed questions from the audience, a former Salome, AZ teacher said that students had told her that they had trained with Al Qaida in northern Mexico. "We are going to take this back," they told her, referring to territory from Arizona to Texas.

Commentary
Goldwater ultimately his own man
By Paul Giblin, Tribune Columnist
August 3, 2005

Donald H. Goldwater launched his candidacy for the governor?s office by recalling his family?s long ties to Arizona on Tuesday.

His great uncle Morris Goldwater served as vice chairman of the committee that wrote the state Constitution, which allowed Arizona to gain statehood in 1912.
His uncle Barry Goldwater founded the modern state Republican Party and served in the U.S. Senate for six terms.

On the national stage, Barry Goldwater challenged Lyndon B. Johnson for the presidency in 1964, and while doing so forged the conservative movement that cultivated Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.

Don Goldwater called it a family heritage of service that is unsurpassed in Arizona.

The Udall and Babbitt families may have standing to object, but few others do.

The Goldwater name is inscribed all over the state.

A street in Scottsdale, a park in Paradise Valley, an airport terminal in Phoenix and an Air Force bombing range near Yuma all were named in tribute to Barry Goldwater, who died in 1998.

Barry Goldwater championed the Western ideals of limited government, economic freedom and individual liberty.

Don Goldwater initially discussed his family?s legacy at each of his three kick-off speeches in Sun City, Phoenix and Tucson.

Then he tried to step away from the legacy, at least a bit.

"For the record, my name is Don Goldwater. Let me repeat: My name is Don Goldwater," he said.

Still, the legacy defines him. It?s the default position.

The former state director of special events has never held public office, so while his family name is widely known outside of Republican Party circles, he isn?t.

Sen. Thayer Verschoor, RGilbert, addressed the topic before Don Goldwater?s speech at the state Capitol.

"Probably some of you are going to touch on the point: Are you going to be Barry Goldwater?

"Let me just tell you right now Don Goldwater isn?t here to fill Barry Goldwater?s shoes," Verschoor said.

"Don is his own man."

Don Goldwater said that in a general sense he?s on target with his uncle?s message, but his stances on specific issues are difficult to qualify.

He said, "It would be hard to try to guess what Barry would be saying today, because times have changed."

So this is what Don Goldwater is saying: He wants to stop illegal immigration, cut taxes, enact school choice measures, thin forests and protect Colorado River water rights.
Contact Paul Giblin by email, or phone (480) 970-2331

A Choice, Not an Echo
by Darcy Olsen
Goldwater Institute Today's News
August 2, 2005

From the steps of the Yavapai County Courthouse where Barry Goldwater announced his presidential bid some 40 years ago, Don Goldwater, nephew of the late senator, today announced his candidacy for governor, advancing a platform committed to ?the fundamental principles of limited government, economic freedom and individual liberty.?

While the Goldwater Institute does not endorse candidates for political office, we would be remiss in not recognizing the entry of a candidate who shares the family name and promises to uphold the principles Senator Goldwater advanced.

Don Goldwater called for major tax relief and education reform, including the adoption of a business scholarship tax credit that Governor Napolitano recently vetoed. Those policies are right for Arizona.

Barry Goldwater offered ?a choice, not an echo? in his 1964 campaign. Don Goldwater may offer the same.

Worth his weight in gold

By Dimitri Vassilaros
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, August 14, 2005

Typically, the Arizona Republican gubernatorial primary is of little interest outside the 48th state -- especially when the race has more than a year to go. But this election is atypical because one of the candidates is more than a Goldwater Republican.

He is a Republican named Goldwater.

Candidate Don Goldwater, 50, is the nephew of Barry Goldwater. Don Goldwater's uncle died in 1998 after being a U.S. senator, presidential candidate, and ultimately the conscience of the Republican Party.

If this married father of two should become governor, his victory would create a golden opportunity for the Republican Party nationwide to rediscover its principles.

Barry Goldwater's principled positions on limited government as defined by the Constitution were the fountainhead for two political movements -- one large, one small.

Sun Belt conservatives like Ronald Reagan who now are a dominant force in the party can trace their origins to Goldwater's landslide loss in 1964 when he offered America a choice instead of an echo.

Goldwater supporters along with liberals opposed to the Vietnam War also created the Libertarian Party in 1971. While it has a much lower profile than the other two, it claims to be the third largest party in the republic.

This Mr. Goldwater is running on more than pedigree. His candidacy is rooted in core conservative positions, ones that would have made his uncle proud. And that could be a template for other Republicans who also want to offer a choice and not an echo.

The nephew learned much from his uncle.

"Individual liberty, self-reliance and your word is your bond," Don Goldwater said.

His uncle also said "the law is the law. If you choose not to enforce it, take it off the books."

Don Goldwater wants to enforce the laws regarding illegal immigration. "Border security is the main issue," he said. "Illegal immigrants are causing huge problems with crime, health care and taxes."

Should he win, Goldwater's first order of business would be to streamline state regulations. Reducing property taxes also is on his "to-do" list.

"I cannot give you numbers (size of the tax cuts) at this time, but property rate evaluations have increased 50 to 80 percent," Goldwater said.

Unlike his uncle, Don Goldwater is pro-life and opposed to same-sex marriage.

And unlike his uncle -- who voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 because it allowed the federal government to usurp states' powers -- this Goldwater has no opinion on the legislation. "I would have to read it," he said.

The fact that Goldwater's campaign will rely exclusively on public financing could deeply concern conservatives wondering why he did not reject the government's handout and raise the money himself.

But that only is a red herring, not a red flag.

The diabolical public financing system created by the Citizens Clean Election Act imposes an onerous penalty on any candidate who prefers to raise money. The more he raises, the more each opponent is handed by the government. Except they get the gross amount of what he raised, while he gets the net after expenses.

"Go for it," was the best advice his uncle gave Goldwater.

"You only get a short chance in this world to tell people what you think," Don Goldwater said.

Dimitri Vassilaros can be reached at dvassilaros@tribweb.com or (412) 380-5637.

Dimitri Vassilaros

Columnist

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

503 Martindale Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15212

http://www.triblive.com

412-380-5637 Phone

412-320-7966 Fax

For more information about my political principles:

http://www.lp.org

Thank you.

Barry Goldwater's nephew says he'll run for governor

The Associated Press

SUN CITY WEST - Republican Party activist Don Goldwater announced his candidacy yesterday for governor of Arizona in 2006, sounding some of the conservative themes once heard from his uncle, 1964 presidential candidate Barry Goldwater.
"The state is headed in the wrong direction," said the 50-year-old candidate. "We must return to the basic principles of limited government, individual liberty and economic freedom."

He said he would push for tax cuts and school choice, reduce regulation of business and combat illegal immigration. He said he would fully enforce a voter-approved immigration law, including its requirement that voters produce identification at polling places.

Goldwater is seeking to unseat first-term Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano, who has said she intends to run again.

Goldwater's family name could be a big asset in a GOP primary field with no clear front-runner. Barry Goldwater was a five-term senator who lost to President Johnson in a landslide in 1964. He retired from the Senate in 1987 and died in 1998.

The younger Goldwater has served as party chairman for a legislative district that includes his home on the outskirts of Phoenix. He resigned Friday from a state Department of Administration job.

Goldwater, 50, joined a still-developing Republican primary field that includes former state Senate President John Greene, a fiscal conservative and social moderate.

Current Senate President Ken Bennett, a conservative from Prescott, has said he intends to announce within several weeks whether he will formally explore a bid for governor. State Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, has said he also may run.

Goldwater devoted a large portion of his speech to illegal immigration, calling it destructive to the state's health-care industry, a burden on public schools and a threat to public safety.

"No longer can we turn a blind eye to illegal immigration hoping that it will just go away," he said.

He cited his uncle's career in politics and government and the work of a great-uncle, Morris Goldwater, on Arizona's constitutional drafting committee a century ago.

"I am blessed to have a family heritage of service that is unsurpassed in this state," he said.

During a brief question-and-answer session with reporters, Goldwater said he generally opposed abortion but favored exceptions under limited circumstances such as rape or cases in which a woman's life was in peril.

Arizona Capitol Times

Goldwater Declares Candidacy For Governor

By Christian Palmer


The nephew of Arizona conservative icon Barry Goldwater declared his intent to challenge Governor Napolitano in 2006 by registering as a candidate with the Secretary of State?s Office before delivering a speech on the House lawn on August 2.

Don Goldwater, a Republican Party chairman for District 16, hopes to unseat Ms. Napolitano, who he says is leading Arizona in the ?wrong direction.? He further blasted Ms. Napolitano for failing to implement the provisions of Proposition 200, something he called, ?an outrageous abuse of power.?

He cited illegal immigration as Arizona?s number one problem, calling it the source of environmental damage, nation-leading property crime rates, job losses and monetary damages to hospitals and schools.

?I will work with all levels of state and local law enforcement to help coordinate training with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency so our local law enforcement officials can more effectively work to protect Arizonans in their homes, workplaces and recreational sites,? said Mr. Goldwater, a former board member of the Goldwater Institute, an Arizona-based conservative think-tank. He resigned July 29 from a job at the Arizona Department of Administration.

He also said that the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, were a result of failed amnesty programs for illegal immigrants implemented in the 1980s.

Promising a return to ?fundamental principples of limited government, economic freedom and individual liberty,? he said that he would reduce taxes and cut government waste on ?legislation and executive orders that promote political ambitions and produce nothing for the citizens of Arizona.?

Mr. Goldwater also told the crowd that he was adamant about his support of school choice programs.

?As consumers, we have the liberty to choose where we shop for food and clothing, what doctor we wish to use, who we wish to purchase a vehicle from and where we choose to live. We must have the same freedom in our schools.?

A crowd of about 20 supporters joined Mr. Goldwater, including Sens. Thayer Vershoor, R-22; and Jack Harper, R-4, and Reps. Judy Burges, R-4, Jerry Weiers, R-12, Rick Murphy, R-9; and Andy Biggs, R-22.

?It?s time we put some integrity on the ninth floor,? said Ms. Burges. ?We can?t afford to lose.?

Phil Corbell, who ran the last two campaigns of Rep. Weiers, heads Mr. Goldwater?s campaign committee, Goldwater for Governor. Mr. Corbell also served on the Barry Goldwater presidential campaign in Georgia in 1964. Mr. Goldwater won the state of Georgia but eventually lost the presidency to Democrat Lyndon Johnson.

Mr. Corbell pledged that Mr. Goldwater would be running a campaign using public funds.

?We?re going to see another big win here with Don Goldwater,? he said.

Mr. Goldwater?s rivals include former state Senate President John Greene and political newcomer Teresa Ottesen of Scottsdale. Others considering a run include Senate President Ken Bennett and Rep. Russell Pearce.

The primary election is Sept. 12, 2006. ?

Goldwater Nephew to Run for Ariz. Governor By PAUL DAVENPORT, Associated Press Writer
Tue Aug 2, 9:26 PM ET



SUN CITY WEST, Ariz. - Republican Party activist Don Goldwater announced his candidacy Tuesday for governor in 2006, sounding some of the same conservative themes once heard from his uncle, 1964 presidential candidate Barry Goldwater.

"The state is headed in the wrong direction," said the 50-year-old candidate. "We must return to the basic principles of limited government, individual liberty and economic freedom."

Goldwater said he would push for tax cuts and school choice and combat illegal immigration. He said he would fully enforce a voter-approved immigration law, including its requirement that voters produce identification at polling places.

He called illegal immigration destructive to the state's health care industry, a burden on public schools and a threat to public safety.

"No longer can we turn a blind eye to illegal immigration, hoping that it will just go away," said Goldwater, who is seeking to unseat first-term Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano.

Goldwater's family name could be a big asset in a crowded GOP primary field with no clear front-runner. Barry Goldwater was a five-term senator who lost to President Lyndon B. Johnson in a landslide in 1964. He retired from the Senate in 1987 and died in 1998.

The younger Goldwater has served as party chairman for a legislative district on the outskirts of Phoenix. He resigned Friday from a state Department of Administration job.

Don Goldwater joins a developing field of Republicans seeking the party's 2006 gubernatorial nomination.

Former state Senate President John Greene, a fiscal conservative and social moderate, already has announced. Current Senate President Ken Bennett has said he intends to announce in the coming weeks whether he will formally explore a bid for governor.

Napolitano won a narrow victory in 2002 but enjoys strong poll ratings