Every long political career ends somewhere. For Tom Horne, it ended in a Republican primary he lost at the age of 81. Kimberly Yee ousted the incumbent superintendent last month. Consequently, one of Arizona’s most durable and divisive figures exits the stage. He leaves behind a long shadow, and that is worth pausing over. Love him or loathe him, Horne … Read More
Too-Early-To-Call Results from Arizona’s Primary Election Day: Primary Validations, Shocks, and Comeback Stories in the Waiting
By Alexander Lomax The first election results dropped from the night, and absolutely nothing is set in stone at this moment, but there is definitely plenty of certainty and more than enough question marks to keep us hitting refresh on our browser constantly. First, Scottsdale. One councilmember is likely advancing and a few incumbents are fighting for their seats. Scroll … Read More
Guest Editorial: How an Arizona Teacher Sparked My Entrepreneurial Journey
By Michelle Watson After attending a graduation ceremony recently, I found myself thinking not just about the graduates and their futures, but about the teachers who helped get them there. At a time when there is an ever-changing landscape in education that dominates the headlines, it’s worth remembering something simpler and far more personal: teachers change lives every single day … Read More
Handicapping the Elections: Contested Primaries in Statewide Races
By Alexander Lomax The Arizona Governor’s Race Narrows to Two (plus Hobbs) Karrin Taylor Robson’s exit in February cleared the Republican gubernatorial field down to Andy Biggs and David Schweikert. Both are sitting members of Congress. Both will face off on July 21. Biggs holds a commanding financial edge. His campaign reports roughly $2.7 million raised for the cycle and … Read More
When a Data Center’s Promise Dries Up (and What It Means for Arizona)
By Alexander Lomax A cautionary tale is unfolding in California’s Imperial Valley, and it has direct implications for Arizona. Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing promised its planned AI data center would avoid drawing from the Colorado River. The developer said the project would rely on reclaimed and recycled water from local cities, not supplies from the drought-stressed river. That pledge has … Read More
Getting to Know Your Candidates: An Exclusive AP&G Interview with PV Town Council Candidate Daran Wastchak
Daran Wastchak is an entrepreneur, consultant, author, and professional speaker. He has lived in Paradise Valley for over 20 years and is now a candidate for the PV Town Council. You’ve lived in Paradise Valley for 20 years. What first drew you here, and what has kept your family rooted in this community? As a native of Arizona, I … Read More
Public Schools Are Closing. The Blueprint for Survival Is Right Next Door.
The Phoenix Business Journal recently published its annual ranking of Arizona’s largest nonprofits by revenue. At number 18 was the nonprofit entity behind BASIS schools. It pulled in $176 million last year against $168 million in expenses. That is not a cautionary tale. It is a case study. A charter school network built on rigorous curriculum and purposeful design is … Read More
Rasta Kari
No, this is not a joke. Kari Lake, who was appointed to head the Voice of America only to then be told to gut it, is being given another much more unusual consolation prize: the Ambassadorship to Jamaica. Strangely enough, in Trump’s first term he also appointed an Arizonan to the Jamaica ambassadorship: Don Tapia. This announcement may not be … Read More
Potential Scandal Looming: Did Arizona Democrats Break the Law by Funding a Primary Challenge?
The Party Thumb on the Scale Democrats haven’t forgotten 2016. They should remember it more carefully. When the DNC tilted the primary apparatus toward Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders, it didn’t just cost a candidate…it cost the party a generation of trust. The argument then was the same as it always is: we’re just supporting our strongest candidate. The method, … Read More