Illustration by Cody Angell

This year, the race for governor presents us with two very different candidates and a clear choice. Janet Napolitano is the best candidate, one who brings people together and represents the moderate voices in Arizona.

Salmon too extreme

Salmon gives mainstream conservatives and Republicans a bad name.

Not all Republicans are against abortion under any circumstances. Not all conservatives are against gun safety. And not all Republicans are members of the religious right.

There's nothing wrong with the fact that Salmon is Mormon, and there's nothing wrong with the Mormon religion. To assert otherwise is just ignorant. But like it or not, we're a diverse community. We're not all Mormon, we're not all Christian, and we don't all believe in God. And that's all right. What's not all right is to be extremely religious and then try to bring that religion into the governor's office. It's not right and it's not good government. We are not stumped when asked how it would affect his governing ability; rather, we are alarmed that some of Salmon's supporters need us to explain it. There's good evidence ÷ including his own statements ÷ to believe that he would let his religion dictate the way he governs.

Jason Winsky

Salmon a Phoenix man

Late in the governor's race we learned that Salmon was a paid lobbyist for the city of Phoenix. For many Tucsonans ÷ liberal and conservative alike ÷ this confirmed our greatest fear: another politician who won't address the problems of southern Arizona. Salmon has not spent as much time in Pima County as Napolitano. We can't afford another governor who will only worry about Phoenix. Salmon never seemed to learn during the campaign that Tucsonans are tired of Phoenix politicians who don't seem to care about the rest of Arizona.

Jessica Lee

Salmon supported the divisive anti-downzoning law, which has crippled Pima County's ability to control growth in a way that addresses the values and concerns of the community. He has also indicated that he would stand in the way of final implementation of Pima County's Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan. Napolitano supports allowing local governments to address growth issues to create more livable cities.

In the middle

Kendrick Wilson

The Arizona Republic, in their endorsement of Napolitano, pointed out that during the primary race she was accused of being too conservative, and now she's being accused of being too liberal. This should tell us something.

She's actually too conservative for our tastes on some issues. She opposes new gun laws. In light of rising gun violence, we prefer someone who supports increased gun safety. But Napolitano has no question that the governor is elected to represent everyone in the state, not just those who like her. We have to respect her for that.

Better for education

Napolitano supports improving education in our state on all levels. During a recent rally at the UA, she said, "The universities are the tools of Arizona, and we must protect them." She also wants to make sure adequate financial aid is available, should tuition be raised. "We cannot allow our great young minds to be shut out of the 21st century economy simply because they cannot afford the price of admission," she explained.

While both Salmon and Napolitano claim to support education, only Napolitano has a workable plan to protect education from future budget cuts. She's willing to take on the "Swiss cheese" that defines our state tax system. Eliminating tax exemptions for telemarketers, massage parlors and dating services among others without general tax raises could funnel much needed money into education. "I'd rather be known for biotech rather than call centers."

Forest health before profit

The most important issue in Arizona continues to be forest fire management. In light of the recent devastating Rodeo-Chediski fire and the severe drought, Napolitano pledges to "ensure that there is coordination of all firefighting and wild land management by the federal, state, county, and local level to make certain that we have a comprehensive plan of prevention and restoration."

Napolitano does not buy into the claim that environmentalists were at fault for the fires. Salmon is eager to pay back the lumber industry and further open up Arizona forests to full-fledged timber cutting. In order to sell this to the public, he and President Bush push the propaganda that clearing our forests of sixteen-inch or

bigger trees will make them forest-fire resistant.

There is a difference in the candidates for governor, and Napolitano is standing tall above Salmon. She's not afraid to say "no" to the special interests. Napolitano has the qualities Arizona so desperately needs in its next governor.