A plan to funnel $3.5 billion into Arizonaβs schools as part of a settlement to a lawsuit against the state over its failure to fund inflation is leading, though barely, early results of the special election showed.
The opposition had a stronger voice than demonstrated by its committeeβs fundraising power, which drew in about $16,000, according to State Treasurer Jeff DeWit, compared with the supportersβ $5 million. As of 10 p.m. Tuesday, the proposition led by just about 11,000 votes.
In Pima County, more voters chose to say βno.βΒ Some 80,000 county voters supported the measure while about 90,000 opposed it, early results showed.
"We never thought this was going to be a slam dunk,β said Gov. Doug Ducey, the prime architect of the measure.
The governor said special elections are always tricky practices as it's hard to say who will turn out.
"The decision to make it a May date did make it more of a challenge,β he said, saying some political advisers suggesting putting the issue on the general election ballot, with a higher turnout.
But Ducey said he was determined to have a vote before June 30, the end of the fiscal year, so that the new dollars would be immediately available to schools.
Morgan Abraham, chairman of the Vote No on Prop. 123 committee, said Tuesday night that he was encouraged by the close margin.
"It shows that money canβt buy elections," he said. "And it also shows that prop. 123 is clearly not a good idea for Arizona."Β
