ARIZONA NEWS

Diane Douglas voted Arizona superintendent of public instruction

Nov 9, 2014, 11:43 AM | Updated: 11:43 am

...

PHOENIX — Arizona public education has a new leader after it was announced Nov. 9 that Republican Diane Douglas won the state’s general election after a close race with Democratic candidate David Garcia.

Garcia could not overcome her advantage as late ballots were counted through the week. His campaign did not want to comment Sunday, said the Associated Press.

Douglas, a former Peoria Unified School District board member, defeated Garcia, an associate professor of education at Arizona State University.

The race centered on the controversial Common Core standards in schools, something Douglas promised to repeal and Garcia promised to uphold.

Douglas unabashedly ran on the single issue of abolishing Common Core, losing the backing of the Republican establishment as a result and drawing the ire of business leaders who were worried that such an action would send a bad message about Arizona.

She was unable to secure endorsements from traditional Republican groups like the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry but benefited from a big night for Republicans in Arizona and nationally as anti-Obama administration sentiment swept through the country.

Douglas said the education standards amount to federal government overreach and they need to be stopped immediately. The issue worked in her favor during the primary when she toppled incumbent John Huppenthal, who stumbled through an error-prone campaign.

Douglas said the main issues of the election are who has power over the education of Arizona students and forcing children to conform to a one-size-fits-all set of standards.

“We have standards now that we can’t control, we can’t change and we can’t make sure that they work for Arizona,” said Douglas, who didn’t respond to an interview request. “That is a huge problem for Arizona education.”

Garcia was the polar opposite of Douglas.

“Stopping the Common Core means we take a step backwards,” Garcia said. “We need to continue to move forward; that is what we do in education.”

Garcia said that voters are largely unfamiliar with the Common Core as an issue.

“It’s become kind of a tag line and a source of fear, particularly for my opponent,” he said. “Even other Republicans aren’t out there pushing for stopping the Common Core in the way that she is. I think that the opening is there because most folks don’t understand what it is.”

Garcia is an Army veteran who has a lengthy background in education. He said politicians on the right like Douglas are demonizing standards that simply outline what students need to know at the end of each grade level.

Douglas ran a low-key campaign in which she largely avoided public events in favor of tea-party gatherings and conservative talk radio interviews.

The Associated Press and Cronkite News Service’s Alexa Armstrong contributed to this report.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Flagstaff streets improving along Interstate 17...

Serena O'Sullivan

ADOT completes I-17 pavement, bridge projects in Flagstaff area

Traveling around Flagstaff streets will soon be safer thanks to the recent completion of two road improvement projects, officials said.

9 hours ago

Microchip...

Greg Barr and Paul Thompson/Phoenix Business Journal

Microchip to close Arizona facility amid cost concerns

Microchip Technology Inc. said Monday it intends to shut down its Tempe computer chip factory as it tries to curtail costs amid an anticipated slowdown in sales.

11 hours ago

St. Luke's Behavioral Health Center...

Kasey Brammell/ABC15 Arizona

St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Center approved to reopen after AZDHS order to cease operations

St. Luke's Behavioral Health Center has been approved to reopen after being ordered to cease operations earlier this year.

12 hours ago

Pima County recount...

Danny Shapiro

Recount confirms winner in tight Pima County sheriff race

The recount for the Pima County sheriff's race has been completed, confirming Democrat Chris Nanos as the winner.

13 hours ago

Bird flu...

Danny Shapiro

Health officials report 1st Arizona cases of bird flu in humans

Health officials on Friday reported the first Arizona cases of bird flu in humans, stemming from a poultry outbreak at a Pinal County farm last month.

16 hours ago

cooling system phoenix weather...

Kevin Stone

Unseasonably warm Valley weather to continue through weekend before cooldown

The ongoing stretch of unseasonably warm metro Phoenix weather will last through weekend, but a cooling system is looming.

17 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

The UPS Store

How The UPS Store is giving back to the community

PHOENIX -- As 2024 nears a close, The UPS Store is looking to give back to the Arizona community with the holiday season approaching.

...

Schwartz Laser Eye Center

Don’t miss the action with this game-changing procedure

PHOENIX -- The clear lens exchange procedure has emerged as a popular alternative to LASIK eye surgery.

...

Midwestern University

Midwestern University Clinics – Providing Comprehensive, Thorough and Unrushed Healthcare to the Valley Community

With so many options for healthcare in the Valley, why should you choose a clinic that has graduate medical students integrated into the patient experience?

Diane Douglas voted Arizona superintendent of public instruction