By Jeremy Duda | Arizona Capitol Times
Doug Ducey won Arizona’s first wide-open gubernatorial race in 12 years, cruising to election as the state’s 23rd governor.
Ducey took the podium at the Hyatt shortly after Gov. Jan Brewer told his supporters that he would “bring calm and principled leadership” as her successor.
“It was a long way to the finish line, and I’m proud of the race we’ve run. We kept the faith. We listened and we learned. We spread our message of opportunity and we built a broad coalition. And tonight, we turned it into a winning coalition,” Ducey told the crowd.
Ducey said he’s grateful for the support he has received and pledged to give his “best efforts as the governor of this great state.”
And in a direct response to Democrat Fred DuVal’s challenge, Ducey said: “I want to send a message to those watching tonight, whether you voted for me or you voted for someone else. I intend to be governor of all and to work to create opportunities for every single Arizonan.”
Remarks by Arizona Governor-Elect Doug Ducey
As prepared for delivery; Embargoed until delivery
November 4, 2014
Thank you all very much. And thank you, Arizona. I’m grateful for the privilege you have given me, the trust you have placed in me and I pledge my best efforts as governor of this great state.
It was a long way to the finish line and I’m proud of the race we have run. When things got tough, we hung in there. We kept our focus and we kept the faith, we listened and learned, we spread our message of opportunity, we built a broad coalition and tonight, we have made it a winning coalition.
I want to send a message to those watching tonight –whether you voted for me or whether you voted for someone else – I intend to be a governor for all and work to create greater opportunities for every single Arizonan in our great state.
When you run for office, you’ve got to be prepared for either outcome. And you learn to respect others who have stepped up and put their names on a ballot. For me, that respect came easy because my opponent is a good man named Fred DuVal. I thank him for a very gracious call tonight, and Angela and I wish Fred and Jennifer only the best.
Even though it was my name on the signs and the ballot, I sure didn’t do any of this alone.
It was the work of so many volunteers in every county, of leaders across our state who spoke on my behalf and the finest campaign team a guy could have.
To everyone who got involved, I hope I can repay your confidence in these coming years and all I can say tonight is thank you for everything you’ve done.
Above all this evening, I’m grateful to my family and friends. A lot of them have come in from the Midwest today – they said they wanted to be here win or lose. It’s a wonderful thing to share this moment with all of them – and especially my brother Nick, I send love to my sister Kristi, my mom and dad and grandmother – Gammy.
I haven’t seen my folks looking so happy since I married Angela. My wife who I met at ASU. And from that day to this one, everything has been better for being shared with her. She’s a great mom to our three boys, Jack, Joe and Sam, and she’ll always be the best thing I’ve got going for me. So to Angela and the boys, I love you and thank you.
It’s more than 30 years ago now that I was a teenager back in Toledo, Ohio thinking about where I should go to college. If you caught any of my campaign speeches, maybe you remember the part about my high school counselor. He took a map, put his finger on Tempe and said, “Go there, to Arizona – that’s where you’ll find opportunity.”
So I packed up my Datsun B-210 and headed west. The man was right – Arizona is a place of opportunity. And I have made this commitment to the people of our state: I will strive every day to make Arizona a place of opportunity for all. I will do that by pursuing goals that are simple to state.
More than ever before, we must encourage economic growth, startup businesses and good-paying, full-time jobs. Tonight, the message goes out to entrepreneurs and investors across America: if you’re looking to build, relocate or add new jobs, then Arizona is the place for you.
Nothing hinders opportunity in a state like high taxes and reckless spending – and we’re not going to be in that business these next four years. We will limit the growth of government by limiting the spending of government. We won’t pay our bills with borrowed money. And if anyone needs to cut back, it will be government and not the hardworking taxpayers of this state.
In education, opportunity depends on reform, reform depends on fairness and fairness depends on leadership. A system that offers opportunity for some, or a failing classroom or a waiting list for everyone else, is not a fair system. Schools and choices available to some parents should be open to all parents – whatever their means, wherever they live – and that will be my administration’s definition of leadership.
I can tell you this – as governor, I will focus dollars on teachers teaching and students learning and never accept that there are losers in the classroom. Every child can learn and every child should receive a quality education, and that’s exactly what we are going to do.
For those of you who know me, you understand that I am focused on people, and the policies and outcomes that will result in a better quality of life, results that will lead to more jobs and better opportunity for all Arizonans, and results that will pave the path for a better life for our children and our children’s children.
Together, these results will lead to the recovery we have all longed for. So to those of you out there tonight that have been hanging on, waiting not for a handout, but a hand up, waiting for the chance to get your child a better education, hoping for a job that will turn into a fulfilling career, I can tell you tonight, hang on a little longer – help is on the way.
In every way I know, I will work as your governor to make our state a more just, compassionate and welcoming place. And we’ll stay true to Arizona’s independent streak, so we can find our own way, free of mandates and commands from Washington D.C. Things go a lot better in our state when we work matters out among ourselves – irrespective of political party – as free men and women, as Arizonans are meant to do. Whatever lies ahead, Arizona’s people will decide Arizona’s future.
In that spirit, starting tonight – the work begins. I will serve as governor of all the people – just as I ran for governor – reaching out and bringing people together. I will do all that I can to bring credit to our state and to be worthy of your confidence. My fellow Arizonans, I will give the job all that is in me and I will work every day to make you proud.
God bless you and may God bless this gathering and the liberty that makes it possible.
Thank you!
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