Press Release
October 15, 2024
Small business groups lay out support for Proposition 140
Phoenix, AZ—Two small business organizations today endorsed Proposition 140 on the November ballot. The measure would end taxpayer-funded partisan primary elections and allow all candidates, regardless of party, to run in a single primary. The legislature would decide how many of the top vote recipients would move on to the general election.
Business for Democracy-AZ was joined by Local First Arizona in supporting Proposition 140.
Proposition 140 would enable all primary voters to vote for the candidates of their choice for each office, regardless of the candidate’s party affiliation or no affiliation.
Open primaries promote small business growth and success because it encourages politicians to listen to all voters, including small business owners, instead of only to power brokers and deep-pocketed special interests.
Proposition 140 will end taxpayer-funded discrimination against independent voters, now largely excluded from voting in primaries, and independent candidates who are required to gather six times the number of signatures than party-affiliated candidates to get on the general elections ballot.
Business for Democracy-AZ supporters have previously weighed in with opinion editorials and letters to the editor (here, here, here and here).
Speaking at the press conference was:
Luis Acosta, Partner, Oracle Strategies
Tahda A. Ahtone, president of JackRabbit Development LLC
Kimber Lanning, CEO and Founder of Local First Arizona.
Paul Johnson, former Phoenix Mayor
Cynthia Phillips, Founder of The Disruptive Factory, 22nd Century by Design
Bob Sommer, Co-owner of Changing Hands Bookstore.
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Local First Arizona is a 501c6 organization, founded in 2005 is committed to the community and economic development throughout Arizona. Our work connects people, locally-owned businesses, and communities for meaningful actions that build a diverse, inclusive, and prosperous Arizona economy.
Business for Democracy-AZ is a campaign of the American Sustainable Business Network with state collaboratives raising the small business voice for protecting and strengthening democracy.
Make Elections Fair AZ is a non-partisan, citizen led effort to make Arizona’s primary elections more fair. Our mission is to restore progress and civility by putting the interests of the individual above partisan politics. We firmly believe that our elections should be a unifying force, working for the benefit of all Arizonans, regardless of party affiliation. Make Elections Fair Inc. is an Arizona based 501(c)(4) organization. To learn more and to join our effort visit: makeelectionsfairaz.com
BUSINESS FOR DEMOCRACY CONTACT:
Frank Knapp
803-600-6874
businessfordemocracyus@gmail.com
CAMPAIGN CONTACT:
Chuck Coughlin
coughlin@azhighground.com
602-300-9979