Governor candidates stunned by botched execution, but support death penalty

By Alia Beard Rau | The Republic | azcentral Five Arizona GOP governor candidates reacted with stunned emotion Wednesday to news that the execution of convicted murderer Joseph Rudolph Wood took two hours. But neither they, nor Democrat candidate Fred DuVal, went so far as to suggest the state should eliminate the death penalty. The next governor will have a say in the future of executions in Arizona, including the authority to sign or veto any legislation changing or eliminating the state’s death-penalty laws. Bills introduced in recent years by Democrats to eliminate the death penalty have not been granted hearings or votes by Republican leadership. Continued:  Related: The right to a speedy death: From the Rose Law Group Reporter Growlery