Letters to the Editor by Robin Jenkins

September 14, 2022

     This November, many of us in Pinal County will have the opportunity to vote for two outstanding candidates to represent us in the Arizona Legislature from LD16. Candidates Taylor Kerby and Keith Seaman have decades of education experience between them and are dedicated to protecting and improving not only Arizona’s public schools but access to affordable health care, housing, a sustainable water supply, the ballot box.

     As you make your election choices, consider these facts about the GOP candidates from LD16. Shope and Martinez fully supported the “Big Lies” about 2020 election fraud. They voted to reduce taxes for the wealthy and give them $7K toward the religious education of their children. Shope, Martinez, and Hudelson support abortion bans, voter suppression, CRT lies and the bleeding of tax dollars from public education.

     Rob Hudelson might be the most extreme of the bunch. In the 2022 Voter Education Guide, he uses Bible references to make his case for a theocratic-authoritarian USA: Psalms for anti-abortion; Luke to promote gun violence on behalf of Christ; Ephesians and Psalms to establish Christianity as the official U.S.-sponsored religion. He could be running for pastor and not the state Legislature.

     Pinal County voters have a clear choice in this election. LD16 can elect commonsense, moderate candidates who will focus on the issues impacting our daily lives rather than ideological nonsense. I urge you to elect Taylor Kerby and Keith Seaman to the Arizona Legislature. It’s time to restore integrity to our state government.

August 5, 2022

     Over the last couple of days, we got two big questions answered unequivocally. Does Trump control the Arizona GOP? Yes, he does! Is the GOP a fascist cult? Yes, it is!

     Question 1 was answered by the results of Arizona's GOP primary. This November will see the entire GOP slate made up of election fraud liars, outrageous conspiracy theorists, nutty science deniers and those who would work to weaken access to voting and drive the rights of women back to Arizona’s prestate days!

     Question 2 was answered by CPAC’s adoration of Hungary’s fascist dictator Viktor Orban, an antisemite and white nationalist who is being used as the GOP’s model for governance in America. They’re following Orban’s playbook of book banning, attacking the press, attacking teachers, limiting individual rights and militarizing the police, along with promoting vigilantism and extremist militias.

     The 2022 election puts Arizona at an obvious and inescapable crossroads. Do we elect those who represent a clear and present danger to American freedoms and democracy? Or do we elect those who battle on behalf of working families, protection of individual rights (including the “right to choose”), honest and challenging public education and expansion of affordable health care. Do we choose climate change denial and assault weapon proliferation? Or do we choose science and public safety?

     The 2022 election choice boils down to this simple question: Do we choose democracy (D) or fascism (R)? The answer rests with us, the voters.

May 19, 2022

     State Sen. Paul Boyer’s guest column left me gobsmacked! While I join most Arizonans in supporting increased funding for fire districts (and school districts and other needs), I am angry about his proposed solution.  

     Our GOP-controlled state Legislature, GOP governor and GOP-stacked state Supreme Court have shoved a gigantic income tax scheme down our throats. This “flat-tax” was not given a fair public hearing. When voters tried to have it appear on the 2022 ballot, the strong-arming GOP blocked the chance for us to weigh in. They also killed the 2020 voter-passed tax surcharge on high incomes, proving that the will of the people means nothing to them.  

     Their tax scam reduces Arizona’s tax revenue by over $1 billion per year. Some 90% of the benefit goes to the top 1% of earners. Additionally, the state already has a huge tax surplus.   

     So, when Boyer and the GOP come to us with the fire district crisis, their solution is to raise the sales tax — the type of tax that increases the burden mostly on working families and retired folks. Arizona already has some of the nation’s highest sales taxes, and we shouldn’t stand for any increases at all. The GOP should instead eliminate their tax cut going into the already deep pockets of their political donors!  

     This isn’t about fire districts, it’s about fairness. The GOP wants us to pick up the tab for checks they write to the wealthy. Enough is enough. I’ll only vote for candidates who care less about subsidizing the mansions and more about our family tables. Will you join me? 

February 17, 2022

     2022 is bringing major changes to Arizona’s congressional districts. We in the former CD1 were fortunate to have had Rep. Tom O'Halleran, who worked tirelessly for the families and businesses in his district. Tom’s work on behalf of rural Arizona is second to none, and I’m grateful to him for prioritizing us over ideological or party extremes. I wish Tom success in his election bid in CD2.

      We must now start looking at our choices for maintaining that same kind of representation we need and deserve. My choice is Kirsten Engel for Congress in CD6.  

     As an environmental attorney, educator, Arizona state Legislator, and mom, Kirsten has been a pragmatic problem solver and advocate for Arizona’s working families. Her motto, “a voice for Arizona solutions,” is proven by her record as a lawyer and state representative. She’s prioritized efforts to lower health care costs and strengthen environmental protections (especially during Arizona’s water crunch). She’s advocated for civil and criminal justice, women’s rights and defended everyone’s right to vote. For her, these have been not just political talking points, but the focus of a decades-long career of hard work and commitment. 

     Arizona has more than its share of political extremists, each trying to out-shout the other. Pinal County needs less crazy and more practical representation. We need someone experienced in problem solving rather than problem creating. CD6 could do no better than to elect Kirsten Engel in 2022.  

     Please join me in supporting her. (Go to EngelforArizona.com) 

January 01, 2022

     As we welcome 2022, Americans have many things to celebrate.

     The economy is headed in the right direction. According to Bloomberg, “U.S. financial markets are outperforming the world by the biggest margin in the 21st century and with good reason: America’s economy improved more in Biden’s first 12 months than any president in the past 50 years […].” IRAs and stocks are up 26% and the GDP a whopping 5.6%. The federal budget deficit has reduced by 17%. Inflation, while a sign of economic boom, is being watched and contained by the Fed. American employees have seen job opportunities and wages rise. With supply chain tangles loosening, gas prices are trending down.

     On the international front, no American troops are fighting any wars. The U.S. is again fully engaged with our allies as we take on Russian aggression and bring Iran back to negotiations. America’s reengagement in the Paris Climate Accord shows the world our commitment to lead toward a safer planet.

     Challenges remain. Voting rights are being threatened by “Big Lie” conspirators, putting democracy at risk. Discrimination continues to plague us. Sensible immigration and gun safety reforms elude us. New COVID variants threaten all of us, especially the unvaccinated. But we’re addressing these challenges head on. Biden’s team is keeping COVID mitigation its top priority. The American Rescue Plan Act and the recently passed infrastructure bill invest in building back a better America over the next 10 years. There’s reason for optimism as we look forward to the new year.

 September 4, 2021

     Women across Afghanistan are afraid their rights and liberties will be stripped away because of the Taliban’s radical religious adherence to Sharia law. Most Afghans oppose this. Strict application of this Islamic legal system has Afghans fearing their own neighbors and friends. They worry that their work on behalf of Americans puts targets on their backs. Many will be killed.

     If this strikes you as an abhorrent civil rights crisis, then you should feel the same way about the recently passed Texas anti-abortion law that SCOTUS is allowing to stand. We now see a law in the United States that virtually prohibits what was recognized as the “law of the land” for roughly 50 years. Safe and legal abortion was decided in Roe v. Wade and upheld by subsequent SCOTUS decisions. American women now see their rights and liberties stripped away due to radical religious adherence to someone else’s beliefs. This law provides no dispensation for incest, rape or genetic disorders. The U.S. is a secular republic no longer. Women must cede their personal decision-making to a Taliban-like Republican party. Most Americans oppose this.

This truly bizarre Texas law pits neighbors and strangers against each other. It turns people into vigilante bounty hunters. It puts targets on the backs of women and anyone who assists them in any way when obtaining an abortion. There is no question that primarily lower-income women will be impacted.

     The GOP and the so-called religious right want to be known as pro-life, but they’re not. They are merely pro-birth. When asked to help meet the needs of living children to be safe, healthy and educated, they back away. This American Taliban simply wants power over women. And there is more in store ― LGBTQ+ is also in their crosshairs. These are dark days.

September 19, 2020     

     An open letter to Vice President Joe Biden: As you enter into the debates with Donald Trump, may I offer you some advice? Don’t get in the mud with him, ignore his childish insults and behavior, and don’t let him come even close to getting under your skin. Should he engage in that behavior, which I’m sure he will, just stop, take a second and remind him that you’re there to debate the facts and the terrible state of the union under his “leadership" or lack thereof. You aren’t there to debate a child.     

     When he persists with his usual inane, lying, boorish behavior, I suggest you respond with the same quiet dismantling that Joseph Welch unleashed on Joseph McCarthy during the 1954 Army hearings. Certainly the quotes from those hearings are just as applicable to Trump today as they were to McCarthy back then. “Until this moment, Mr. Trump, I think I have never fully gauged the full and total extent of your cruelty or your recklessness. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency? If it were in my power to forgive you for your reckless cruelty I would do so. I like to think I am a gentle man, but your forgiveness will have to come from someone other than me.”    

     You have the high road over this disaster of a “president." Let history repeat itself with a calm, yet powerful, takedown of Trump. Quote the words from that quiet man from Iowa. They’ve never been needed more.
 

May 19, 2020

     They’re at it again! State Legislative District 11’s Leach, Finchem and Roberts are abusing their powers by sticking their collective noses into business that’s none of theirs.     Saturday’s Dispatch article by Joey Chenoweth points out that these political extremists are calling on Arizona’s attorney general to prevent the Pima County Board of Supervisors from taking action intended to keep the public safe. Never mind that the Pima board took action based on input from over 120 members of the business and faith-based communities. Never mind that the Pima action is in compliance with CDC guidelines. Never mind that overwhelming citizen feedback has been not only positive but is asking for even more restrictions.    

     This is a familiar pattern for these three extremists. They’ve thwarted attempts by voters to clean their local environment, take a sensible step on gun safety and shine a small light on campaign financing — each of these in communities well outside of LD11 borders.     

     Meanwhile, I’m left wondering why these elected representatives are not lifting a finger to increase COVID testing in a state that recently ranked 51st in the nation. Why aren’t they pushing for heightened safety precautions before opening public schools? Why aren't they screaming for more protections for residents and staff at nursing homes? Where is their action regarding the growing number of domestic violence cases in Arizona or the poor heath care available for veterans?     

     The answer is simple: They don’t care about anything but political power. The solution is also simple: Run them out of office in the 2020 election. LD11 can do so much better!