9/19/2006 9:00:00 PM Fresh off victory, Munsil visits Kingman
Jennifer Bartlett Miner Staff Writer
KINGMAN - Len Munsil, Republican candidate for governor, made a stop in Kingman Monday to speak at the Republican Men's Luncheon regarding his plans for the future of Arizona.
Munsil, a third generation Arizonan, said he believed a Reagan conservative was more in tune with Arizona ideologies than the current liberal Democrat holding office. He said he believes strongly the philosophies of a Reagan conservative, lower taxes, national security and more, are consistent with the core values of the people in Arizona.
"I think we've had a governor over the last four years who is out of touch with the people of the state," Munsil said.
One of his biggest problems with current Gov. Janet Napolitano was that she has consistently flipped on issues without admitting she was originally wrong, Munsil said. In addition, Munsil said Napolitano has decided to run a re-election campaign based on her record; however, on issue after issue, she has proven that she is against the feelings of the state, he said.
Munsil said, based on her record, Arizona is actually worse off than the state was four years ago. Now, after being called on it, she is saying that the state needs to look forward instead of backward, Munsil said.
Munsil said border security is one of the biggest issues needing to be addressed in Arizona.
Arizona has the worst crime rate in the nation, he said, directly relating to an insecure border. Munsil said putting radar on the border would go a long way to securing it. It is important to deter illegal immigrants prior to them crossing the border.
"No one disagrees that it is ultimately the federal government's responsibility to secure the border," Munsil said. However, illegal immigration affects every citizen of Arizona. The lack of security costs Arizonans money every day and it is time for a governor who is ready to do something about border security, he said.
Doing something about the border will affect several other problems present in the state, Munsil said. Methamphetamine problems will be drastically reduced once the border is secured, Munsil said, as 90 percent of methamphetamine product is transported across the border.
In addition, the overcrowded hospitals and doctors offices are affected by the number of illegal immigrants streaming into Arizona. Schools are similarly affected by illegal immigration, spending millions of dollars on educating children who are here illegally.
Arizona also has to have a stronger approach to crime, Munsil said. Some methamphetamine laws, he said, have not caught up to how addictive the drug really is. Right now, people breaking these laws, even those distributing the drugs, most often do not see jail time until their third offense. Laws need to get tougher to solve the methamphetamine epidemic, he said.
Judges need be appointed, Munsil said, who are more concerned with victims' rights than those of the defendants. Many of the judges currently are lax on the defendants for fear of the violating their rights. Munsil said the constitution provides ample protection for defendants. Victims, on the other hand, are in need of an advocate.
Education also needs to be emphasized, he said. The current governor, Munsil said, is more concerned with the institutions than the students. The government needs to determine the best way to educate Arizona's children and then run with it. Arizona needs to expand freedom and educational choice.
