Diane Douglas opponents launch recall campaign

The Coalition to Recall Diane Douglas on Tuesday morning formally launched a petition drive to recall the Arizona superintendent of public instruction from office.

"Our reasons for recalling her is that she lacks a concern for students, she lacks a plan for education and she lacks honesty, integrity, and transparency,"  coalition chairman Max Goshert said.

The group has 120 days to collect the approximate 366,000 signatures needed to put a recall of Douglas on the ballot.

Goshert did not release a specific number of volunteers but said his group has "hundreds" of people willing to circulate petitions in Coconino, Yavapai, Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties. The group's Facebook page had more than 12,800 "likes" on Monday.

Douglas, who has ignored a threatened recall since her election last fall, had nothing to say about the effort.

"This is not on Superintendent Douglas’ radar at all," said Charles Tack, her spokesman. "She remains focused on supporting Arizona students, parents and educators, something that has not changed since she took office in January."

Last November, Douglas, a Republican, narrowly defeated Democrat David Garcia for the state schools chief job. Just weeks after Douglas was elected, Goshert created a political-action committee, a Facebook page and the website recalldouglas.com.

After taking office in January, Douglas generated controversy by crossing swords with Gov. Doug Ducey and Arizona State Board of Education President Greg Miller over who controls the board staff. That issue is now in court.

More recently Douglas and Miller made headlines after an incident at a board meeting during which Douglas told Miller to take his hand off her when he accidentally touched her arm. Douglas called the Department of Public Safety on Miller after the meeting. Miller said he was taking the microphone away from Douglas because she was talking out of turn.

One recall supporter is Lisa Ballard, a teacher at Washington High School in the Glendale Union High School District.

She said she does not believe Douglas is qualified for the job because she has never been a teacher or worked in academics.

"It's kind of like saying 'I've been sick before, therefore I should be able to diagnose and treat an illness like a doctor," she said.

"You have to be in the trenches to understand what things mean -- what budget cuts mean for kids."

Ballard said she believes many Arizona voters chose Douglas over Garcia simply because she is a Republican. She would like to give voters a chance to select another candidate.

"The reason she won is because she is a Republican. People were just voting a straight ticket. Once in office she has been overwhelmed. That is why she is fighting and lashing out over everything."

The coalition does not appear to have support from major Arizona education groups. Arizona Education Association, Arizona's branch of the national teachers union, does not support a recall of Douglas, said association spokeswoman Sheenae Shannon. Officials from Arizona School Administrators Inc. and the Arizona School Boards Association said state and federal laws prohibit their organizations from getting involved in elections for public office.

What the petitions say 

The Coalition will cite the following reason in their application as the grounds for recall: