With only days remaining before the Nov. 7 election, all indications are the governor’s contest is a one‑horse race.

And the race appears thus far to be a runaway for Janet Napolitano, the Democrat incumbent.

The former state Attorney General commands a solid double‑digit percentage point lead in the polls over her Republican challenger Len Munsil and Libertarian contender Barry Hess.

According to an Arizona State University poll released last week, Napolitano has the support of 67 percent of voters, Munsil has 24 percent and Hess garners just one percent.

Napolitano credits her huge lead to voter appreciation for the hard work her administration has done.

Hess says the polls are wrong. He believes the polls are being manipulated to discourage voters who oppose Napolitano from turning out on Election Day. “I’ve attended more than 100 events and there’s little support for her out there,” he said.

The Desert Advocate requested an interview with Napolitano, but a member of her staff said she had no time between now and the election to grant the request.

The staff contact stated that the governor would reply to questions sent by e‑mail, which she honored.

In her written responses, Napolitano said she has effectively addressed a number of the state’s key issues, including illegal immigration.

“It is the primary responsibility of the federal government to secure the border with Mexico and provide for sound immigration policy,” wrote Napolitano. “No state or local official should forget that, nor let the federal government off the hook.”

She counts among her accomplishments the steps her administration has taken to combat crimes related to human smuggling and to reduce incentives for illegal immigrants to settle here.

Among the steps cited was shaking loose $1.5 million in state emergency funds last year to help alleviate the financial burden illegal immigration is exacting on four of the state’s border counties. She also took credit for expanding the role of the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the state’s Homeland Security department to combat illegal immigration.

Napolitano said she will continue to fight for employer sanction laws, as long as such legislation has “teeth.”                      

Republican lawmakers, how‑ever, have been critical of the incumbent governor. They contend her tough talk on illegal immigration is all for show.

Napolitano holds the record for vetoing more bills in a single legislative session than any other governor in Arizona history, plus she has vetoed every immigration reform‑related bill crafted by GOP lawmakers.

In a September interview with The Desert Advocate, Munsil said the state’s border security is worse off under Napolitano than it was four years ago. He proposes an eight‑point security plan that includes deployment of the Arizona National Guard, creation of an Arizona Border Patrol unit of DPS and the use of radar technology at the border.

“The highest priority of government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens,” said Munsil, a first‑time candidate. “We have a completely unsecured border and the worst crime rate in the nation.”

Hess says he is disappointed that Gov. Napolitano has refused to debate him.

“Is she running on her record–or from it?” he asked. “I can’t get her to come out of the closet. She only shows up at events where she’s the only candidate.”

If elected, Hess wants to immediately eliminate the state income tax, pointing to the economic prosperity enjoyed by states with no such tax.

“Munsil never mentioned the state income tax until we did, and he wants to phase it out over 10 years,” Hess said. “I want to do it now.”

On the subject of education, Hess says the state is obligated to produce competent young men and women prepared to go out into the world. He supports charter schools, private schools and even home schooling.

Munsil stated he would expand charter school options and promote higher performance‑based pay for teachers and provide more dollars to the classroom.

Napolitano wrote that she believes education is the gateway to prosperity and that’s the reason she worked hard to implement voluntary all‑day kindergarten and give teachers an historic pay raise.

She added that in her second term the focus will be on aligning elementary school with high school and high school with college and post‑secondary demands.

Hess stated that if the people of Arizona want to fix nothing, they should vote “Janet.” If they want to fix blame on Janet, vote for Munsil. “But if they want to fix Arizona, they should vote for me,” he concluded.

Reach the reporter at barry@thedesertadvocate.com.