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>>> Coming up next on "Arizona
Horizon," we'll handicap the
early field of an increasingly
crowded governor's race with ASU
pollster Bruce Merrill.
We'll look at the funding
challenges of maintaining and
improving Arizona's roads and
bridges.
And we'll look at a mentoring
program that helps government
agencies and nonprofits sharpen
their management skills.
Next on "Arizona Horizon."
>>> "Arizona Horizon" is made
possible by contributions from
the Friends of Eight, members of
your Arizona PBS station.
Thank you.
>>> Good evening, and welcome to
"Arizona Horizon," I'm Ted
Simons, the Governor's race
continues to attract a sizeable
field of candidates, especially
on the Republican side.
We recently took an early look
at how the race is shaping up
with ASU pollster Bruce Merrill.
>> Always good to see you.
>> Good to be here with you,
Ted.
>> Let's talk about the race on
the Republican side, that's
where the crowd seems to be.
>> First, you're right.
I don't see any really strong
Democrats so far.
Some could emerge.
Fred DuVal has announced.
I think it's really going to
come out of the Republican side
again this year.
There's 100,000 more Republicans
than Democrats.
Democrats don't vote in the high
percentages that Republicans do.
I think the next governor is
likely to be a Republican.
>> With that in mind, let's go
over some names and give me your
opinion.
The latest to emerge is the
godaddy executive Christine
Jones.
>> She's a successful
businessperson, a councilmember.
She made some money when godaddy
went public.
I've met with her, she's
committed to public service.
I think she's more of a moderate
than the other two, I think
she's a long shot.
I -- this scenario that may
develop -- the two top
contenders are really Ken
Bennett and Doug Ducey.
They each have their own
constituencies but they are both
very conservative.
If they really divide the
Republican vote, get into a
shouting match and beat each
other up, there could be room,
for the first time in a long
time, for a moderate Republican
like Christine to be a player at
least.
>> You mentioned Ken Bennett,
Secretary of State, and Doug
Ducey as most likely at the top
of the pile.
What about the possibility of a
Scott Smith, Andy Thomas?
>> Scott Smith is very popular
as Hugh Hallman is in Tempe.
But the reason that you have the
advantage going to Ken Bennett
and Doug Ducey, they have run
statewide campaigns.
They have some statewide name
recognition.
And somebody like a Hugh Hallman
or somebody like a Scott Smith
are well liked and well-known,
but only in a tiny percentage of
the state.
In addition, Scott has recently
been elected the chairman of
cities and towns nationwide.
That's a big deal.
That's a very prestigious thing.
I'm not sure he'd give that up
at this particular time.
I could be wrong.
>> So we have Bennett, Ducey,
Hallman, Thomas and Jones.
The fact that she's an outsider,
does that help in this day and
age in Arizona?
>> Well, it could.
Campaigns really matter, how she
presents herself, how she spins
her strengths and her
weaknesses.
But it certainly is a scenario
that is possible.
I don't think there's any
question about that.
>> Okay.
As far as Bennett and Ducey and
Hallman and Thomas, how do they
differentiate themselves from
the others there?
And again, how do you do that in
the primary, a Republican
primary, and then leap-frog over
and hope that catches some
Democrats?
>> We've seen that play out not
only in Arizona but in the
national scenario.
But to get through a primary you
have to go so far to the right
that you're out of the
mainstream when the general
election comes.
In Arizona it's not quite that
much of an issu,e, because it is
less of an issue among
Republicans.
Somebody like Hugh Hallman or
Scott Smith, Andy Thomas, they
are not really big players.
You're talking about raising
four,$5 million.
So right now it's kind of like a
poker game.
You have the money to sit at the
table.
The only three I see that have
that kind of money, that kind of
possibility, would be Doug
Ducey, Ken Bennett, and
Christine Jones as a possible
outsider.
>> And most of her money comes
from Christine Jones.
>> Well, I don't know.
>> You would think so, at least.
>> You would think so, I just
don't know that much about her.
>> Last question on the
Republican side here, those are
the top three or at least three
to keep an eye on right now.
Who is the establishment
candidate?
Is there a business candidate?
The moneyed interests in the
state, the power brokers, who do
they want to see?
>> Ken Bennett has a couple of
advantages.
He's kind of the darling of the
Tea Party, the far right.
These people are serious about
voting, they go to the polls.
Also he would probably get most
of the LDS vote.
Those are two pretty big blocks
in the Republican Party in
Arizona.
Doug Ducey would be much more of
the business, a little more
moderate but still on the right.
He's got marvelous credentials.
He's a very successful
businessman, he will have done
well, I'm sure, as treasurer.
So he's got some things going
for him.
He will be a little bit more of
an establishment
business-oriented candidate than
Ken Bennett, who will be much
more the philosophical
ideological candidate.
>> Interesting.
Democratic side again, you
mentioned the way the state is
shaped up right now it's
difficult to see a Democrat.
We have Fred DuVal and Chad
Campbell, the House Minority
Leader.
You know him in certain parts of
the city, but maybe not in
certain parts of the state?
>> If you took any of those
people you just mentioned,
particularly Chad Campbell or
Hugh Hallman or Scott Smith, I
doubt they have 5% name I.D.
statewide.
That's a long way to go.
If you don't have name I.D.,
you've got to pay for it.
That's what makes them more of
an outside possibility.
You know, in the world we live
in and the media society,
anything can happen.
I'm not predicting anything this
early.
But when you look at it right
now I think the top two have to
be Doug Ducey and Ken Bennett,
and the possibility that
Christine Jones, if they split
the vote, comes in.
I think that's where most of the
play is going to be.
>> What does a Fred DuVal have
to do, since he's the only
announced candidate and leading
player on the Democratic side?
What does he have to do, or is
there anything he can do?
>> Yeah, there are some things
he and the Democrats can do.
They have been pretty good about
this recently.
That's number one, they have to
have a unified candidate.
They can't have a contested
primary where these guys are
dividing the money.
They have got to have one person
they unify behind and get behind
that person.
Fred has impressive credentials,
he's got strong roots in
education.
That's going to be a big issue
in Arizona.
He's a personable guy.
It's just that structurally in
Arizona, there's a lot more
Republicans than Democrats.
Republicans vote in much higher
percentages.
It's always going to be a
challenge for the Democrats for
a while in Arizona.
>> Last question: What is
Governor Brewer going to do?
And if she does decide she wants
to fight this and maybe run
again, all bets are off?
>> All bets are off, everything
would change.
There's been rumors she's been
trying to do that legally, to
see if there's any possible
route that she could do that.
But that would change
everything, everything would be
starting over.
It would make it even more
interesting.
Every election in Arizona tends
to interest me, this is going to
be an interesting one.
>> If it happens, we'll get you
back on and handicap the whole
thing over again.
>> We'll do it.
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>>> According to a new report,
Arizona's roads and bridges are
in relatively good shape.
Is the state prepared to
maintain what exists and build
new infrastructure?
Joining us now is Robert
Sahmour, ADOT's senior deputy
state engineer of operations.
>> Sounds like we're not doing
too bad.
>> We're not.
A recent report did talk about
roads in good condition,
approximately 57% of our roads
met that criteria.
Interesting, we don't want to
celebrate 57% roads are in good
shape.
We will continue to see the
deterioration of the system
based on increased travel, and
you know, I've got to say our
roads are in the shape they are
in because of the dedicated
people who work at ADOT.
We have men and women on the
roads night and day, weekends,
maintaining those roads whether
it's potholes, guardrail repair,
incident management.
We have a great partnership with
the federal highway
administration, and great
partnership with our contractors
that helps us to keep those
roads in great repair.
>> I wanted to ask you, what
kind of repairs do you most see
out there?
>> It really depends on the
region.
I would say in the northern
region where we have challenges
due to weather, snow, rain,
those areas, potholes, statewide
we see challenges with guardrail
repair.
I didn't mention bridges, but
bridge decks become a challenge
due to different de-icers or
salts used during snow-clearing
operations.
It's a myriad of challenges,
sign knock-downs.
But in general the crews are
very proud of the work they have
been able to d,o, and this
ranking reflects that.
>> As far as maintenance, what
-- how often are our roads in
Arizona in need of maintenance?
Is there a rotating schedule or
planning involved?
>> Typically we would build
roads with a design life.
There would be a road
maintenance cycle.
Our crew resource out there
based on vehicular accidents,
sign knock-downs, pothole
repairs, those unexpected
repairs are done routinely
throughout the year.
>> The condition of Arizona's
bridges are a little better even
than the roads, huh?
>> We ranked very well.
The age of our infrastructure
plays a part, relatively new
infrastructure.
The urban area certainly has
been in an expansion program.
Newer bridges may be designed
with a 50-year life.
I mentioned earlier some
challenges due to weather in the
North country, do pose a
significant workload for us.
>> With these bridges is it more
of a maintenance deal now as
opposed to building new?
What seems to be the focus?
>> Good question.
We were in an expansion mode for
years.
And we look at projects in three
different categories: Expansion
or adding new lanes, new
freeways, modernization which
would be upgrading guardrail,
signs or lighting or
preservation.
We were in an expansion mode for
years.
Now we're in a preservation mode
where you're going to see more
emphasis on the fix it first
approach.
Mill and overlays of asphalt,
replacement of bridge decks and
those type of projects, to try
to preserve the infrastructure
we've invested in so it'll last
into the future.
>> I would imagine that change
of strategy is because of
funding concerns.
How are roads, bridges, the
transportation infrastructure,
explain how those are funded.
>> The two primary funding
sources for projects in general
in the system are the gas tax
and the vehicle license tax.
The challenge that we have the
gas tax, it's a flat 18 cents
per gallon.
It's related to new car
purchases and registrations of
vehicles.
During the downturn of the
economy you saw less new cars
being purchased.
You also saw people holding on
to older cars.
As the value goes down so does
the valued tax component on the
individuals vehicles.
>>> You saw the price of gas
increasing, people buying more
fuel efficient vehicles, less
ref new, correct?
>> They are able to go further
for the same amount of gas
purchased.
That puts additional wear and
tear on the system.
>> Indeed.
Federal funding, less there, as
well.
>> Seeing some downturn in
federal funding.
We look to our partners to
supply the lion's shares of the
funding we use currently for
projects.
>> I read about a $250 million
budget for roads and things, but
it sounded a little confusing.
Has there been a budget cut
regarding this particular issue?
>> When we talk about projects,
we look at a five-year
construction program.
The five-year construction
program is based on the cash
flow available based on
projections of the gas tax and
vehicle license tax.
We have a downturn on those
sources, so we had to trim
approximately $350 million out
of the five-year program.
That program goes before the
state transportation board every
year and we roll out public
hearings in the spring,
specifically March, April and
May.
Then that program is voted on.
So the five-year horizon has
about $350 million less than it
did the year before.
>> This is a rolling horizon?
>> It is.
So we're at about five-plus
billion for the five-year
program.
It averaged out to a little over
a billion dollars a year per
fiscal years for projects.
>> With that in mind, and with
the funding sources as they are,
what's being done to look at
perhaps something more stable,
more dedicated funding, what's
going on out there?
>> There are a lot of ideas
being discussed.
The policymakers are looking at
everything from increasing the
gas tax, looking at indexing the
gas tax.
Within the Maricopa County area
we have a gas tax dedicated to
funding freeways.
There are other options
available to us through
public-private partnerships.
So there are a lot of options on
the table.
Obviously none of them are
popular because in one way or
another we need to fund that.
But the importance of putting
Arizona on that global economic
freeway to make sure that we are
a player in the global economy,
we need to fund those freeways,
those local roadways to maintain
that network, so that we have a
vital economy.
>> And real quickly, you
mentioned lawmakers are looking
at ideas.
Are they seriously looking at
these ideas?
>> I know here in the region it
was a topic at the
transportation policy committee
today.
I know that we have been
talking.
There's a transportation train
corridor alliance out there
looking at these opportunities,
looking at freight
opportunities, looking at rail.
On the long-term horizon we'd
like to see an I-11 come in and
continue to connect us to the
global economy.
I know they are looking at them
and looking at those funding
opportunities.
>> Robert, thank you so much for
joining us.
>> Thank you very much.
>>> Intel has developed a
skills-based volunteering
program that offers free
mentoring to nonprofits,
schools, and government agencies
in a variety of business
management principles.
Rudy Hacker is the founder of
the program, he joins us now to
talk about Intel's mentoring and
planning services.
Good to have you here.
>> Thank you.
>> What is skills-based
volunteering?
>> It is the difference between
traditional volunteering, where
you might go out and paint a
house or plant a tree, all very
good things.
We're trying to bring to the
table a high level of
volunteering, where you get
advantages of people with
skills.
>> These are Intel employees
basically volunteering in their
fields of expertise?
>> The program is called
mentoring and planning services.
>> How did you come up with
this?
>> In part, you want something
that's going to stick.
We talk about Intel maps,
helping people to see the
future, where they are going to
go.
We don't do the work for the
individuals.
We try and transfer skills to
the organization.
We're helping them develop a map
and create a future for
themselves.
>> This is Intel now, but you're
focusing on business management
principles.
First of all, what are those
principles?
Some would say Intel should be
concentrating more on computer
chips or a high tech endeavor.
>> Intel employees can go out
during work hours and all of the
work time we provide Intel pays
$10 an hour.
It's a terrific program, we're
very proud of it, it's
energizing for our employees,
too.
>> Free mentoring to nonprofits
and schools and agencies and so
forth.
Gilbert fires one of the
agencies?
>> That's one of our premiere
projects.
We had done a previous project
for Gilbert town council and
helped them with creating a
vision for 20 years from now.
In addition to that they said,
we have problems with a backlog
of paperwork, could you help us
streamline our environment.
>> Pat went in, took some rides
on a fire truck and the result
is he ended up building a system
that's now deployed on their
trucks.
>> It's updating reports and
transfers --
>> They are getting immediate
services in the field so Gilbert
residents are getting better
treatment.
You're writing as an EMT,
walking into the yard with the
blood pressure, now they have it
right there.
It's a ruggedized device and the
follow-up work happens much
faster.
>> You also work with the school
out there, that had to do with
rebranding, correct?
>> The Institute of Technology
is a tremendous facility, there
are 6,000 students out there.
Their problem statement was
people don't understand who we
are.
Can you help us with our
marketing.
We brought in some of our
marketing folks, looked at how
they were positioning the
messages.
Essentially they cut their
budget and increased yield and
the number of people coming to
events by about 75 percent by
shifting from traditional money
based, paper-based, to social
media.
>> Now with Gilbert, I believe
you worked with NAU, as well.
>> We did a great project with
NAU, they talked about
curriculum development, it's
taking too long.
We taught them some techniques
and they were able to employ
them very successfully.
>> So far, are those short-term
or long-term mentoring deals?
>> You get to know the people
and you tend to develop the
relationship.
But we are not giving away these
resources.
Our focus is not to put a fish
on the table, but to teach them
to fish.
We have a cycle and they come
in, make an application, and we
target these projects to be
anywhere from two months to
about seven months.
The actual investment runs from
10 to 15 to 30 hours per
employee.
It really depends on the project
and how many employees are on
it.
>> That's part of the criteria,
in selecting the organization
you decide to work with?
>> Yeah, there's a couple of
criteria.
They need to be a nonprofit,
we're not going to help a
for-profit.
We need to believe they are
willing to transfer those skills
to their organization.
It's a big component, as well as
safety.
>> Doesn't sound like it, it
sounds like you've got employees
ready to go.
I'm coming to you with my
nonprofit, and you've got to
find a nonprofit to match my
particular challenge.
>> No, we have a vetting
process.
We have the DOT tool, the
Development Opportunity Tool.
You could give me an application
and say, I'd like to improve
something in the operation here.
We would post that out or go to
somebody we know who has that
ability and say, hey, we know
you're experienced in this,
would you like to work on this
project.
>> And basically take from it
there?
>> And take from it there.
>> When you came up with this
idea was it based on previous
models?
Were other companies and
organizations out there doing a
similar kind of thing?
>> No.
It was based on a combination of
factors.
On our anniversary Paul Utley
challenged us to go out into the
community, and backed it up by
putting out $10 an hour to every
hour spent in the community.
We had been asked to teach local
communities to run their
operations better.
We also had personal experiences
that weren't as positive.
We felt we could have a bigger
impact on the community.
Essentially that combination of
those events and those ideas
were put together as a proposal
and our corporate quality staff
said, sounds like a great thing,
and go try it out.
>> And you've tried it out and
the response from people you've
worked with?
>> Tremendous.
We've worked with the Tempe
police, Scottsdale schools, Rio
Salado.
Essentially it's like a think
tank for free.
You get access to tremendous
employees.
>> Where do you go from here?
>> Actually we've expanded.
It was started in Arizona, but
we've expanded out to Santa
Clara, Guadalupe, Costa Rica,
Oregon.
We're trying to get involved in
our local communities wherever
they are.
>> Thank you so much for joining
us.
>> Appreciate it.
>>> Friday on "Arizona Horizon"
it's a "Journalists'
Roundtable," fallout continues
over the lack of death benefits
for many of those killed
fighting the Yarnell Hill fire.
And is the Speaker of the House
looking at a run for Arizona's
1st Congressional District?
Those stories Friday on the
"Journalists' Roundtable."
That is it for now.
I'm Ted Simons, thank you so
much for joining us, you have a
great evening.