Page 26 - The Edge - BTS 2019

CAROLYN WARNER REMEMBERED
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heard to describe Warner included: caring, gentle, forceful,
humble, engaging, encouraging, humorous, honest, ethical,
collaborative, spiritual and e ective.
Pedicone told of an incident in which Warner is said to have
told her six children on a Christmas morning that she had State Sen. Lela Alston John Pedicone Dave Bolger
good and bad news for them. “ e good news was that she
was running for governor and the bad news was that she was teacher, citing Warner’s “spirit, work ethic and her caring about
spending their inheritance,” Pedicone said. our school and children.”
e three-way 1986 gubernatorial election was mentioned, Alston had been elected to the state Senate in 1976 and
in which Warner, the Democratic candidate lost to Republican served on the Appropriations Committee when various
Evan Mecham, who was impeached a little over a year later. agency heads would submit their budget proposals. Most of
Mecham got about 40 percent of the vote, Warner 34 percent the presentations were boring, Alston said, but Warner was
and Bill Schulz, a former Democrat who ran as an independent, “spellbinding.” “Carolyn made it a production, something you
received 26 percent. wanted to see, to feel, to be there.”
Essigs observed: “ ere is no way she should have lost that Warner’s daughter, Caron, who looks
election.” remarkably like her late mother, said
Warner also lost in the 1976 Democratic primary for U.S. Warner was dedicated to supporting
Senate to Dennis DeConcini, but erased any concerns of a children and “making us a better
rift in the party by fully supporting DeConcini in the General democracy – that’s where her heart was.”
Election, which he won. She asked how many in the audience
In a brief video, U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, said had known her mother, and about half
Warner was, rst and foremost, a teacher who spoke her mind. raised their hands.
Dave Bolger, who worked with Warner, a co-founder of the Caron said her mother relished extreme Caron Lieber
Arizona Educational Foundation, in the public and private weather, and as a child would go outside
sector for 45 years, said Warner, as state schools superintendent and hang onto a pole when a tornado approached in Oklahoma.
from 1975 to 1987, was supportive, instructive and constructive. Caron recalled the incident on January 13, 2018, when an
“She never lost her commitment to the things she believed extreme alert was issued that a ballistic missile was headed
in,” Bolger said. “When Carolyn was committed to something, toward Hawaii, where the family was vacationing. Caron said
there was no expiration date. She was never afraid to speak up she panicked. Where could they hide? What should they do?
for what she believed in for education and for Arizona. She did “My mother said, ‘We’re all going to die sometime. Let’s go
it with a smile and a purpose I don’t think we’ll ever see again.” to the beach and watch it come in.’” Caron said. “She was totally
State Sen. Lela Alston, a Phoenix Democrat and President prepared. She wanted to see the missile land.”
of the Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board, As it turned out, the missile alert was a false alarm.
said she was humbled to be talking about her friend. Alston Caron closed by saying she would love to have a school in
said Warner inspired her when she was a young high school Arizona named after her mother.

“She was a model of strength

and support for women in leadership – she was always
ready and willing to help women in school administration, in civic

leadership and in politics. Like great leaders, she promoted leadership in
others. She was a multiplier, a leader who made you feel smarter, work

harder and focus on the right things.”

— John Pedicone, a former school superintendent and current educational advocate and consultant

26 THE EDGE | BACK TO SCHOOL 2019