By Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Alia Beard Rau, The Republic | azcentral.com
Three candidates vying to become Arizona’s next governor said Friday that, if elected, they would do away with state income taxes, the source of nearly half of the $9 billion that flows into state coffers each year.
The remarks at a gubernatorial forum hosted by the Arizona We Want Institute revealed contrasting plans for the state’s fiscal future.
Seven Republicans are seeking their party’s nomination: Secretary of State Ken Bennett, state Treasurer Doug Ducey, former Go Daddy executive Christine Jones, former Mesa Mayor Scott Smith, former California Rep. Frank Riggs, state Sen. Al Melvin and former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas.
The 2½-hour event in downtown Phoenix — moderated by 12 News anchor and reporter Brahm Resnik —turned serious when Bennett, Melvin and Ducey said they would reduce or entirely eliminate personal and corporate income taxes.
