Republican challengers targeting Arizona governor on immigration

Arizona is the busiest illegal crossing point along the U.S.-Mexico border, and because of that Republican candidates hoping to derail Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano's re-election bid say they smell blood.

"I think this is her Achilles' heel," said businessman Mike Harris, one of five Republicans seeking his party's nomination.

Napolitano on Monday vetoed a bill to make illegal immigrants' presence in Arizona a crime under the state's trespassing law. Five weeks earlier, she vetoed a measure to require her to deploy National Guard troops along the border during declared states of emergency _ like the one she's had in effect in four border counties since August.

Most of the Republican gubernatorial candidates aiming to face off in the Sept. 12 primary joined GOP legislators in denouncing Napolitano's veto of the trespassing bill.

"We have a horrible (problem) when it comes to immigration and we need all forms of law enforcement to step forward and enforce the laws. This governor has refused to do it," said Don Goldwater, a GOP gubernatorial hopeful who has participated in volunteer Minuteman border watches to report illegal crossings.

Goldwater and most of the other Republicans support some of the same get-tough measures.

Beside calling for deploying National Guard troops along the border to thwart illegal crossers, steps advocated by various GOP candidates include building border walls and fences, instituting state police roadblocks to catch smugglers, enforcing sanctions against employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, holding apprehended illegal immigrants until they are deported, and requiring local governments to enforce immigration laws.

However, one candidate says some of the rhetoric used in the campaign appears on the verge of going too far. "If the Republican Party is viewed as anti-Latino that's hugely problematic and that's wrong and that shouldn't be the case," said Len Munsil, a longtime activist on social issues.

Public polling on the gubernatorial race has been thin because the Republican field was slow to develop, but GOP candidates say the public's interest in immigration is clear.

"It is the first issue that people talk to me about and many times it is the only issue that people want to talk about," said Jan Smith Florez, a retired state appellate judge. The issue is "sucking a whole lot of energy. We need to get on and deal with it."

A pollster said a February survey of Arizona voters found that immigration was the most frequently cited top concern.

"Immigration is clearly an important issue with the public but whether or not it's going to drive the election remains to be seen," said Fred Solop, a Northern Arizona University political science professor.

Napolitano enjoys healthy poll ratings and has taken steps to address the immigration issue at a time when it is increasingly seen as a national issue, not a state one, Solop said. "I don't think it's necessarily going to stick in terms of the electorate."

Asked how she'll approach the immigration issue while campaigning, Napolitano said she'll continue to call for border enforcement, employer sanctions _ "we've had no interior enforcement to speak of" _ and a guest worker program as part of comprehensive federal action.

Napolitano has said she'd expand the National Guard's existing role on the border if the GOP-led Legislature provides funding, and she said she vetoed the trespassing bill because it was unconstitutional and an unfunded mandate on local law enforcement.

"I'm going to be looking for approaches at the state level that make sense, that fill in but do not substitute for federal responsibility," she said. "I'm going to speak very honestly with people about immigration. I think a lot of the ideas that are kind of floated around _ quote 'tough' close quote _ when you really analyze them aren't really tough and aren't really effective but they are just bumperstickers."

She also said Republicans shouldn't assume the issue works for them. "Washington has let this fester for far too long. I think there's a responsibility and accountability for that and you've got to look for who's in charge in Washington, D.C.," she said.

Let Napolitano explain her activities tax-funding the Arizona-Mexico Commission, and the Border Infrastructure Project being implemented in collaboration with federal, state and local government agencies. For more info, go here:

FROM THE ARIZONA-MEXICO COMMISSION WEB SITE http://www.azmc.org/
Welcome to the Arizona-Mexico Commission (AMC) online news and information resource. The Arizona-Mexico Commission is Arizona's premiere cross-border organization. We are a mission-driven non-profit organization chaired by Arizona's governor, Janet Napolitano. Our mission is to improve the economic well being and quality of life for residents of Arizona by promoting a strong, cooperative relationship with Mexico and Latin America through advocacy, trade, networking and information. Looking for funding? Look no further and check out AMC-ASU’s new funding database: Unlocking the gates to grant sponsorship in Arizona! Visit www.azgates.org to find funding and grant application resources online.

The single information source on Arizona's Border Infrastructure Projects! Visit www.azbip.org to find streamlined information on infrastructure projects in Arizona's border communities.

LINK State of Arizona Border Infrastructure Project http://www.bip.arizona.edu/

"The Border Infrastructure Project database is the single source of information on Arizona’s border infrastructure projects. It tracks each project’s progress along its approval, programming and funding paths and provides the information in a concise and timely way. I hope this is a valuable tool for you and that you will use it often." -Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano

The University of Arizona Office of Economic and Policy Analysis developed the Border Infrastructure Project concept in partnership with the Arizona-Mexico Commission. It is being implemented in collaboration with federal, state and local government agencies. Border communities and stakeholders will be engaged in this project through outreach efforts.

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