Lake Mead
Opinion: Arizona governor candidates agree that water is a priority. But where do they stand on important issues like conservation, augmentation and regulation?
Editorial board|Arizona Republic
Arizona’s governor candidates say it’s a top priority to keep the water flowing for all Arizonans.
Water is going to dominate the next governor’s term.
Rapidly deteriorating conditions on the Colorado River, plus a rapidly depleting groundwater supply in many areas of the state, will put water policy – and the uncomfortable conversations we’ve been avoiding for years – front and center.
It’s important to understand where governor candidates stand on this complex issue because they will set the tone and the agenda for our state’s next moves.
That is a critical role, even if the Legislature must ultimately sign off on any funding or law changes, because of how imperfect any solutions are likely to be. We need a governor who can balance competing interests and compel action.
How do governor candidates view water?
Four Republicans and two Democrats are running to replace Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, who has reached his term limit. The winners of the Aug. 2 primary will face each other in November.
But what might the victor’s water agenda look like?
The Arizona Republic’s editorial board scoured candidates’ websites and pored through their plans. We also posed questions to candidates to sus out how they view state regulation, recently passed funding and their role as governor in water talks.
There is wide agreement that Arizona must find additional sources of water and stretch the supplies that we already have. Most candidates also tout forest thinning to improve the health of our watersheds and promise as governor to work with diverse interests.
But there are important nuances on the ideas in which they’d focus their energy.
Here is a summary of where each candidate stands in three critical areas: conservation (using less water), augmentation (finding additional water supplies) and regulation.
