Republican gubernatorial candidate Len Munsil told about 30 College Republicans Thursday he would propose freezing tuition rates if he were elected governor.
Munsil, who graduated from ASU in 1985, spoke at the Agriculture Building, drumming up support in the last few weeks until the Nov. 7 election.
ASU students have a lot at stake in this race, Munsil said.
"It is important to me to have student support," Munsil said. "On this governor's watch, tuition has increased nearly double during her four years in office.
"I would propose freezing tuition at current rates."
Daniel Hansen, a political science sophomore, said he agreed with almost all of Munsil's views.
Pushing to make higher education more affordable could make a big difference, he said.
"I think he could definitely improve ASU," Hansen said. "I think he'd definitely have an impact on college campuses throughout the state - especially ASU."
But Munsil's ability to affect the University beyond tuition could be limited, said Josh Satterfield, a business management freshman.
"I think he'll definitely be able to make it cheaper," Satterfield said. "[But] I don't know if he has the power to change it in any other way."
One of the ways to reduce higher-education costs would be to pass Proposition 300, Munsil said.
The proposition would make it illegal for undocumented or noncitizens to receive in-state status.
As governor, Munsil said immigration would be a top priority.
"[Napolitano] can talk all she wants about taking action on the border," Munsil said. "But the reality is she's been an impediment to us doing anything to lower the number of illegal crossings."
While the United States is a country of immigrants, there has to be respect for the law, Munsil said.
Carlos Garcia, a history senior, said the immigration issue is a federal problem - and that's where it should be taken care of.
Garcia helped organize the Proposition 300 protest march Monday.
Even though he wasn't at the rally, Garcia said the immigration issue had been making progress under Democratic leadership.
"Napolitano has done a great job with what she's had to work with," Garcia said.
With the Nov. 7 elections coming up fast, Munsil asked his supporters to continue to spread the word and to not believe the polls.
In a Cronkite-Eight poll released on Tuesday, Munsil trails Napolitano by 43 points.
With most polls showing similar numbers, they could be reliable, Garcia said.
"When so many polls are consistent the way they have been - especially about [Munsil] - there's something there," Garcia said.
Whether the polls show it or not, the campaign is going strong, Munsil said.
"There are three national polls that have us in the hunt, within striking distance," Munsil said. "It's fine with me if people don't realize how well we're doing. But we're doing much better than what the polls are saying."
During the primary elections, some pollsters were way off, Munsil added.
"The only way [Napolitano] wins this is if she fools the people of Arizona a second time into believing she is something she is not," he said.
Even Munsil, however, seemed to understand the challenge ahead when asked whether he would consider running for president.
"I'd like to pull off one miracle first," he said, laughing.
Reach the reporter at matthew.g.stone@asu.edu
