Maricopa County Republican Forum
Thursday, October 15, 2009 — 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Madison School District Main Office Boardroom
5601 North 16th Street Phoenix, Arizona 85016
John Corderman will moderate a panel discussion with the following guests:
Mr. Tom Horne
Superintendent of Arizona Public Instruction
Dr. Tim Ham
Superintendent of Madison School District
Dr. Matthew Ladner
Vice President of Research at the Goldwater Institute
Senator John Huppenthal
Arizona State Senate (District 20)
Representative Rich Crandall
Arizona State Representative (District 19)
Ms. Karla Phillips
Policy Advisor to Governor Jan Brewer for K-12
Ms. Margaret Dugan
Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction
Discussions will center on various issues, focusing primarily on Education in Arizona with some questions pertaining to public education on the national level.
Due to limited seating, please RSVP as soon as possible to John Corderman at jcorderman@cox.net. Those people who have RSVP’d will have priority on seating. We look forward to having you join us
Seeing Red AZ 
Just curious…
How can a partisan forum be held in a school district office?
Our school district abides by a number of rules which prohibit campaigning or direct partisan action on their campuses.
Although these events are sponsored by the Maricopa County GOP, they are public forums, open to everyone with question and answer sessions for full participation. They are held after school hours, no different than holding a district meeting at a school and or library. Both major parties do so. There is nothing illegal about the practice. What should be illegal is indoctrinating young school children in the politics of one particular party, during school hours under the guidance of the teacher and principal, as has recently been the case across the nation.
Parent Y –
It may not “officially” be a partisan candidate forum, but it certainly has the appearance of one –
Horne is running for AG
Huppenthal is running for Superintendent
Dugan, Horne’s assistant, is running for Superintendent also
Crandall wants to run for Superintendent
Ladner currently works for the GOP’s pet “non-affiliated” lobbying group
Phillips officially works for the Governor now, after a stint as a GOP analyst at the legislature, and, by the way, a stint with Ladner’s organization.
Bottom line: If it has feathers like a duck, waddles like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it just might be a duck.
Of course, the better question is what do the other candidates in the Superintendent race think of their own party excluding them from a candidate forum? GOPers Mary Lou Taylor, Gary Nine, and Beth Price have all formed committees for next year.
It is OK under GOP bylaws for the party to show favoritism during a primary?
The public education unions control the public school system and indoctrinate the students with the democrat party ideology and present Obama videos, and a homosexual vision to 5 year olds with no provision for an option out by parents. The education unions are but a wing of the Democrat Party. Your complaint about an after-hrs program open to all is ludicrous, but to be expected from those who want to do away with the First Amendment.
Craig, It sounds as though you have a decided Democrat axe to grind. Cool your jets. There is nothing untoward here. Hold your own meetings and I can assure you there will be no complaints from the Republican flank.
Chuck –
I *am* a Democrat, but with no axe to grind here. I just love this stuff (yes, I’m a political geek).
My party looks to be a light quiet on the “intra-party” squabbling front right now, so when you folks get start marking your territories, it gets some attention.
Good to see Democrats are reading this site. You can get an education here. Welcome! I’m also a politico, but I stay closer to home now that I’ve seen the light. I was a Democrat in college.