Page 30 - AASBO EDGE 2020 WINTER

LEGISLATIVE WORKSHOP

BY DON HARRIS

Successful Bond, Override Elections in 2019

a Good Sign for 2020

Strong voter turnout that led to passage of a solid majority Bentz said he saw formal opposition to bonds and overrides
of bond issues and budget overrides in 2019 bodes well for in growing areas of the Northwest Valley. “Transplants don’t
public schools in 2020, but that doesn’t mean they can sit know all the benefi ts of schools,” he said.
back and enjoy their successes.
Orne recommended that education groups should start
That’s the good news – possibly bad news – message from a planning for the elections immediately. “All of a sudden it’s
panel of experts who discussed the 2019 bond and override April and people are talking about school issues,” she said.
election results and what they mean for the future. “Have a strategic plan. Poll the community, see what people
care about that will result in a higher success rate.”
Paul Bentz, Senior Vice President of Research and Strategy,
HighGround, public affairs consultants; Natalie Orne, Vice Karanjia said it’s important to explain to voters how much
President, Core Construction; and Vispi Karanjia, Principal, bonds will cost and how the money is going to be spent. “Get
Orcutt | Winslow, architectural fi rm, shared the message out,” he said.
their views at the November 15 Legislative
Workshop sponsored by Arizona School The panel was asked whether their fi rms have
Boards Association, Arizona Association of a philosophy about making donations to fund a
School Business Offi cials and Arizona School winning campaign.
Administrators.
Orne said her construction fi rm is part of the
Statewide, 48 of 64 proposals passed (75%); community, understands the importance of
Maricopa County, 31 of 37 passed (83.7%); education, and doesn’t hesitate to support
Pima County, 4 of 5 passed (80%); and Pinal school issues.
County, 4 of 9 passed (44.4%).
Bentz had two pieces of adv ice. “Ask early,” he
Bentz said the good news was that voter turnout said. “Don’t assume your vendors are going to
was up from previous elections, but it was still donate. Make sure they know where the money
only 21%. “That’s good news, but not great,” is going – that’s critically important. Number
Bentz said. “That means three out of every four two, construction and architect fi rms are doing
voters stayed home.” a very good job of supporting schools. The
rest of your vendors not necessarily are. Work
Looking ahead to the 2020 elections, there is on cultivating your relationships. There are a
a lot of enthusiasm, he said. “It might be the highest voter ton of vendors getting a lot of money from you and are not
turnout we’ve ever seen,” Bentz said, recalling the 80.1% helping to sustain the schools on the campaign side.”
turnout in 1980. “We could get close to that, if not beat it.
But the problem is, a lot of those folks won’t be educated on Vendors get contracts worth thousands of dollars from
the issues.” schools, but some of them won’t even contribute $100 to a
bond or override election, Bentz said.
He encouraged his audience to talk to voters about the
education issues. “It will be a long ballot, and you can’t make “I’m not saying that’s a quid pro quo – because that’s
the assumption that they will be yes voters. So, the good news a big deal right now,” he said, an apparent reference to
is there is a ton of opportunity. On other hand, the takeaway allegations leveled at President Donald Trump. “Encourage
from 2019 is, the opposition is real and it’s growing.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 33

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30 THE EDGE WINTER 2020