To help its members and others make informed decisions during the legislative election season, the Arizona Technology Council has released its 2020 Vote TechSmart voter’s guide.
In order to provide guidance on Arizona legislators who support the technology industry’s agenda, the biennial guide includes the Council’s 2020 legislative endorsements. The support of these candidates is based on several factors, including the most recent two-year voting records of incumbents, written responses to a survey and interviews of new candidates.
Endorsements are focused on candidates for the state Legislature, and the Council backs only those candidates who support a technology agenda, so some districts may have no recommendation. The guide also assigns a letter grade (A – F) to each incumbent in the state’s 30 legislative districts.
“The Vote TechSmart guide is a critical resource to help educate our members for the upcoming election,” says Steven G. Zylstra, the Council’s president and CEO. “Elections are an important time to work to ensure the success of candidates who support enhancing Arizona’s standing as a technology center and help make it a place where not only large corporations but also startups are able to start, grow and thrive here.”
A digital version of the guide, which was published before the primary election, is available at www.aztechcouncil.org/vote_techsmart.
In an effort to provide complete transparency, the guide features a detailed overview of the review process by the Council’s Public Policy Committee followed by an in-depth explanation of the endorsements. The voting guide also includes a summary of the state’s 2020 public policy efforts, which include:
- Expanding access to investment capital.
- Supporting tax policy to incent research and development investments.
- Advocating for enhanced technology infrastructure.
Improving Arizona’s public education system from pre-kindergarten through postsecondary with technology-based and blended learning.
To stay current on politics and policies affecting the state’s technology industry, visit the Technology Advocacy and Public Policy page on the Council’s website at www.aztechcouncil.org/public-policy
