Gubernatorial candidates Fred DuVal (left) and Barry Hess greet each other before taking part in a forum on veterans’ affairs sponsored by the Downtown Student Veterans Association in Phoenix on Oct. 8, 2014. Republican candidate Doug Ducey did not attend. (Photo by Ben Moffat)
Approximately 600,000 veterans live in Arizona, and gubernatorial candidates Fred DuVal and Barry Hess discussed veteran-related issues ranging from education, job creation and homelessness at a forum in downtown Phoenix on Wednesday.
The forum, held by ASU Veterans Association, allowed veterans to hear directly from the two candidates and ask questions concerning them personally as well as veterans as a whole.
Unemployment is a large concern for veterans, and DuVal said the unemployment rate for Arizona is a full point higher than the national average.
“This is an unacceptable reality for Arizona,” he said.
DuVal went on to discuss providing education programs for returning veterans and how the skills they learn in the military can be transferred to education.
“We need to look at the applicability of credits from skills learned during their time serving,” he said. “Academic programs and federal programs are also important and how veterans can make use of these programs to help veterans reintegrate.”
Hess said it isn’t the governor’s job to put people to work.
“You can’t put people into jobs from the governor's office,” he said. “The skills of the individuals have to meet the jobs that are available, and I'm interested in creating jobs so everyone can benefit.”
Jobs and education are the most important thing for veterans, DuVal said.
“Assuring that these great patriots can come back and get degrees, get courses, the kind of training they need in both the community colleges and universities and get the jobs they are capable of doing and have been trained to do is the most important thing,” he said.
The combination of education and training is what will help provide veterans with the ability to get jobs and grow the workforce, DuVal said.
Gubernatorial candidates Barry Hess (left) and Fred DuVal take part in a forum on veterans’ affairs sponsored by the Downtown Student Veterans Association in Phoenix on Oct. 8, 2014. Republican candidate Doug Ducey did not attend. (Photo by Ben Moffat)
“In an increasingly sophisticated economy where the right training, the right skills, the right knowledge, the right experience is what’s going to give people the opportunity to move through a complicated global economy and do well is a function of the access to education and training,” he said. “There is a relationship between the two, because businesses grow when they have the work force that gives them the skills they need to grow, so our ability to create better jobs is a function of our being able to supply the workforce with the talent that they need to succeed.”
The Veteran Affairs Hospital was among the topics discussed, and veterans wanted to know how the two candidates, if elected, would handle the mismanagement of the hospital.
“I will hold the fed’s feet to the fire,” Hess said. “I will hold them accountable for the veterans services most definitely, and I will use the governor's discretionary funding to make sure veterans are receiving the services they deserve until the federal government figures it out.”
DuVal called the situation a tragedy and shameful to watch take place.
“As governor, I will make sure that we are aggressive in our support for our veterans to receive federal assistance that they need,” he said.
Student Veterans Association President Luis Cardenas Camacho said all of the questions asked by the moderator were sent in by veteran groups from around the state and was the first gubernatorial discussion on veteran issues.
“The fact they came says a lot and they have a plan and recognize the issues affecting veterans,” he said.
Reach the reporter at jshanco2@asu.edu or follow on Twitter @joey_hancock
