Public invited to participate in live Telephone Town Hall discussion with state schools chief candidate Jason Williams

http://www.williamsforarizona.com/

Phoenix, Ariz. - July 26, 2010 - After a successful first Telephone Town Hall discussion with parents, educators and the general public Thursday, Democratic candidate for state superintendent of public instruction Jason Williams announced he will be hosting two additional conference-call/radio-talk-show-style question and answer sessions this week.

Nearly 2,500 callers participated in the first Telephone Town Hall, moderated by Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board President Amy Kobeta. That call highlighted critical education-related issues, such as reforming the state accountability system, attracting and retaining excellent teachers in every classroom, and restoring funding to Arizona schools.

The Telephone Town Hall technology is relatively new to Arizona. Williams is one of a handful of candidates and elected officials who have used the tool to reach out to constituents and voters. Williams said his use of the Telephone Town Hall format during this campaign cycle is symbolic of the type of statewide outreach he will engage in as Superintendent of Public Instruction.

"To effectively address the needs of our schools and our students, the state superintendent must connect with all stakeholders across the state, including parents, teachers, students, administrators and community members," said Williams. "I have consistently made a commitment to give voters direct access to the state superintendent, and through the use of innovative tools like the Telephone Town Hall, I am pleased that I will be able to hear the views and opinions of people all over Arizona."

In addition to the use of innovative technology to hear from parents and educators when elected, Williams has committed to reach stakeholders in their communities by working at least one day each week outside of Maricopa County.


His weekly visits will include in-person town hall forums in communities across the state, as well as meetings with key stakeholders in every county.

Volunteer

Also, much like he does with his campaign's famed yellow school bus, Williams plans to tour the state in a mobile office, giving teachers and administrators direct access to Department of Education services in their own communities.

The next two Telephone Town Halls will take place Tuesday, July 27th from 7:00-8:00 p.m. and Sunday, August 1st from 3:00-4:00 p.m. Anybody interested in participating in the forum can sign up by contacting the Williams For Arizona Campaign Headquarters at HelpKids@WilliamsForArizona.com or (602) 795-4734.

To learn more about Jason Williams, visit his website here.

Get on the Bus to Victory!

Over the past year and a half, you have joined me as I've campaigned across the state, meeting voters in every corner of Arizona at town halls, club meetings, community picnics, candidate forums, house parties and receptions. You've helped me carry our message that we need to change the direction our state's leaders have been taking us.

Status quo and special interest insiders have controlled education in Arizona for too long, and they have failed. This election is too important to the future of our state and our children to continue playing musical chairs at the Department of Education.

It's time we start putting kids first. It is imperative that we win this election so our children will have a true public education advocate representing them as Superintendent of Public Instruction. We must win in November, but first we must win the August 24th primary election.

With early voting in the primary set to begin in just 7 days, it is crucial that we continue to reach every voter in Arizona. Your help is critical to our success. Please volunteer today!

To ensure victory in the August 24th Primary and November 2nd General Elections, our campaign is running an aggressive grassroots effort to earn the necessary votes. You and the other members of our statewide network are critical to this endeavor.

I invite you to Get on the Bus with us. We need volunteers every day from now until Election Day. Please sign up to volunteer today!

There are several activities and fun opportunities to get involved with the campaign, including:

• Ride with me on the Williams For Arizona Campaign School Bus

• Call voters to educate them about the campaign

• Pass out literature to voters

• Help answer phones, enter data, and other important tasks at Campaign Headquarters

Click here to sign up and let us know how you can help or contact our campaign headquarters by email or by phone (602) 795-4734.

Thank you for your continued support. With your help, I am certain that we will win in 2010 and secure a more promising future for all of our children!

Early Voting for the Primary Election starts in just 7 days! Please volunteer today and Get on the Bus to Victory with the Williams For Arizona Campaign. Click here to sign up and let us know how you can help or contact our campaign headquarters by email or  by phone (602) 795-4734.

Video Message: Happy Fourth of July

Just a few months ago, Americans spent the day honoring members of the military who died in service to our country. On Memorial Day 2010, we acknowledged the tremendous sacrifice made on our behalf.

In an 1884 Memorial Day speech, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. explained this phenomenon perfectly when he said:

"Through our great good fortune, in our youth, our hearts were touched with fire. It was given to us to learn at the outset that life is a profound and passionate thing."

Today, as we celebrate the 234th year of American independence, I challenge all of us to find the passion burning in our own hearts, understand what others have done on our behalf, and know, too, that we have a responsibility to the next generation to live our lives so that they will have cause to celebrate our contributions and dream even bigger dreams than you and I dare to dream today.

Wherever your passion leads you, please remember that dreams are nothing more than passions not yet realized.

My dream is for every child to be provided with a legitimate opportunity to realize their own dreams through an excellent public education.

Today, I'll be spending the holiday in Tucson, riding in our campaign's new school bus and meeting voters at various events around town. Tonight, we'll watch the fireworks show over A-Mountain from the Tucson Convention Center. Come on by and get on the bus with us.

Here is a short video message from me to you from aboard the bus:

If you're having trouble viewing the video, you can watch in on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/williamsforarizona

Happy Fourth of July! Thank you for your continued support.

Media Advisory: Statewide school bus tour starts this weekend!

Jason Williams to launch statewide bus tour during 4th of July weekend
State schools chief candidate to tour Arizona in school bus

Phoenix, Ariz. – Jason Williams, one of the leading candidates for state Superintendent of Public Instruction, will launch his statewide school bus tour during the 4th of July weekend. Williams will make appearances in Prescott, Anthem, and Tucson this weekend. The tour will continue to other areas of the state over the next several months leading up to the August 24th primary election and November 2nd general election.

WHO: Jason Williams, Democratic candidate for state Superintendent of Public Instruction

WHAT: Launch of statewide school bus tour while participating in 4th of July Weekend festivities

WHEN & WHERE:

Saturday, July 3, 2010:

Bus will depart from Williams For Arizona Campaign Headquarters, 205 N Martin Luther King Circle, Phoenix, at 6:30 a.m.

Bus will arrive in Prescott for the Frontier Days Parade at approximately 8:15 a.m. Bus will drive through town and park near the parade area. Williams will march in the Frontier Days Parade at 9 a.m. with the local Democratic Party.

Bus will depart Prescott at approximately 12:00 p.m. and arrive in Anthem at approximately 1:30 p.m. Williams and supporters will break for lunch and visit local businesses.

Bus will drive through Anthem during the afternoon and park near the Anthem Community Park, Anthem Way and Gavilan Peak Parkway, at approximately 6 p.m. Williams and supporters will join the local Democratic Party at a booth at the festival in the park and watch fireworks that evening.

Bus will depart Anthem at approximately 10:30 p.m. and arrive at headquarters by 11:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 4, 2010:

Bus will depart from Williams For Arizona Campaign Headquarters, 205 N Martin Luther King Circle, Phoenix, at 2:00 p.m.

Bus will arrive in Tucson at approximately 4:00 p.m. Bus will drive through town for visibility and make stops at various events. Bus may stop at the Red, White and Boom celebration at the Pima County Fairgrounds, 11300 S Houghton Road, Tucson, before stopping at the Pima County Democratic Party 4th of July celebration, home of Renee Morton, 526 S Stone Avenue, Tucson, at approximately 7:00 p.m.

Bus will park near the Tucson Convention Center at approximately 7:20 p.m. Williams and supporters will meet with voters in the Convention Center parking lot and watch the fireworks over A-Mountain that evening.

Bus will depart Tucson at approximately 10:30 p.m. and arrive back at headquarters at 12:30 a.m.