Animals won at the polls as Arizona voters defeated Prop 105 by a landslide margin of 66% - 34%. Prop 105 was the most dangerous threat yet to our citizen initiative process which is our best device for protecting animals, enabling Arizonans to pass laws that outlawed traps and poisons on public lands, cockfighting, and the confinement of pregnant pigs and calves raised for veal. Had Prop 105 been in place, none of these initiatives would have passed. The tobacco, fast-food, and alcohol industries that placed this deceptive measure on the ballot underestimated Arizonans who recognize how sacred our voting rights are and refuse to give up that power granted by our state’s founders. Thanks to all the volunteers and The Voters of Arizona Coalition for their efforts to defeat Prop 105!
And voters in South Tucson passed Prop 401, the Tucson Dog Protection Act which bans some of the cruelest abuses of the dog track industry. Prop 401 requires that dogs be let out of their crates for six hours a day (currently dogs are caged up to 23 hours per day); bans feeding dogs raw 4 D meat (from dead, dying, or diseased animals), and outlaws the use of anabolic steroids. For more information visit the Tucson Dog Protection website and click here for today’s AZ Daily Star article. Thanks to all the volunteers that worked tirelessly to pass this important measure!
There were more victories for animals at the national level. California voters passed Prop 2 by a landslide margin, which follows Arizona in banning the cruel confinement of pregnant pigs and calves raised for veal. Prop 2 also outlaws battery cages for hens, an historic victory for farm animals. And in Massachusetts voters passed a measure to ban greyhound racing despite heavy opposition from dog tracks. Read HSUS President Wayne Pacelle’s blog on both measures here . For more information on the plight of racing dogs visit Greyhound Network News.
Candidates
State Legislature
In contested General Election races for the Arizona House of Representatives, 17 of HVA-endorsed candidates won and 10 lost their races. In contested State Senate races, 9 candidates endorsed by HVA won and 4 lost.
Although most of the defeats involved promising newcomers, two animal-friendly incumbents are in danger of losing their seats to former legislators with poor voting records. In a close race in LD 10, Rep. Jackie Thrasher is losing to Doug Quelland. Thrasher has one of the best records on animal protection and voting rights while Quelland had one of the worst, receiving an “F” grade for the 2005 session. And in LD 24 HVA-endorsed Rep.Theresa Ulmer is trailing Russell Jones, who was given a “D” grade in 2005 for his record on animal and voting rights issues.In another race too close to call, HVA-endorsed Senate candidate Cheryl Cage appears to be losing to Al Melvin in LD 26.
CountyRaces
In the Maricopa County Attorney race, incumbent Andrew Thomas defeated HVA-endorsed candidate Tim Nelson. However Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall, who was endorsed by HVA won her fourth term over challenger Bradley Roach.
Federal Races
The election of Barack Obama for President is a huge victory for animals! Both Obama and Biden were endorsed by Humane USA* for their records on animal protection legislation.
In Arizona’s US House election, 5 out of 6 candidates endorsed by Humane USA won their races, with incumbents holding onto their seats and newcomer Ann Kirkpatrick defeating mining lobbyist Sydney Hay in CD 1. Kirkpatrick is a former state legislator who received an “A” in 2005 for her voting record on animal protection and initiative rights. In CD 3, Humane USA- endorsed candidate Bob Lord lost to incumbent John Shadegg, who scored only 8 points out of a possible 100 points on the 2008 Humane Scorecard.
*Humane Voters of Arizona is a state chapter of Humane USA
Thanks to Volunteers!
Thanks again to all of the volunteers who helped to defeat Prop 105 and donated their time and resources to elect candidates that support animal protection and voting rights. We greatly appreciate the individuals and organizations that forwarded HVA alerts to their members.
Please check the HVA website for updates on late election results.We hope that you will share your thoughts on the election on this forum.
-- Edited by Humane Voters of AZ at 20:01, 2008-11-06
