Republican incumbent Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich was the clear winner of this week's debate with Democrat challenger, January Contreras, a chamber of commerce official said during a recent interview.
"Attorney General Brnovich made clear during the debate that he has a record of fighting hard for Arizona and that he has absolutely earned re-election," Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry Senior Vice President of Government Relations & Communications Garrick Taylor told Legal Newsline. "It wasn’t a close call."
The first, and only, debate scheduled between Contreras and Brnovich was televised on KAET-TV Oct. 10, with host Ted Simons.
Democrat January Contreras
The Citizens Clean Elections Commission sponsored the debate.
Contreras is former Maricopa County Deputy Attorney, and Attorney General. Brnovich is seeking another term. He has been AG since 2015.
Brnovich came out very strongly during the debate, Taylor said.
"Brnovich took his case to voters during the debate and it's a strong one," Taylor said. "His advocacy on behalf of seniors, pushing back against federal overreach, standing up for small businesses, all make him the attorney general Arizona needs."
Brnovich also addressed issues of concern to the business community, Taylor said.
"Arizona's business community knows Mark Brnovich to be a fighter for what's right," he said. "Small businesses here saw him in action when he went after an attorney who was manipulating our disability access laws to file bogus, drive-by lawsuits. Mark Brnovich shut down that litigation mill and told the attorney to take a hike."
Taylor admitted to a bias in favor of Brnovich.
"We'd be better off with more leaders like Mark Brnovich," he said. "Arizona job creators appreciate his willingness to hear our concerns and his recognition and understanding that a legal environment hostile to business can do real harm to our economy. He deserves reelection."