CONTACT: MARIA MENDOZA
(520) 294-7212

Monday, June 5, 2000.

Phoenix, AZ---Congressman Matt Salmon (R-Mesa), one of Arizona's leading political figures, endorsed Arizona's "English for the Children" initiative to dismantle bilingual education.

Campaign Chair Maria Mendoza praised Rep. Salmon's commitment to immigrant education: "Congressman Matt Salmon is the first Arizona political leader with the courage and determination to stand up for the rights of immigrant Hispanic children to be taught English in our public schools." Joining her at the morning press conference were campaign co-Chairs Hector Ayala, Margaret Garcia Dugan, and Norma Alvarez, along with immigrant parents supporting the measure from throughout Arizona. Campaign Co-Chair Ayala announced that their signature drive had already gathered far more than the 101,000 signatures necessary to qualify the measure for the November 7, 2000 ballot.

Ron Unz, Chairman of California's successful Prop. 227 campaign, whose 1998 landslide victory had provided the inspiration for the Arizona effort, suggested that Rep. Salmon was nearly the first prominent elected official anywhere outside California to announce support for a 227-type measure. Mr. Unz is a strong supporter of the Arizona initiative.

Joining these Arizona supporters was Superintendent Ken Noonan of Oceanside, CA, a former bilingual education teacher and founding president of the California Association of Bilingual Educators. Although Superintendent Noonan had been a strong opponent of California's Prop. 227, the huge subsequent rise in immigrant academic success had won him over to the initiative. He came to Phoenix to predict similar gains for immigrant Hispanic students in Arizona if the "English for the Children" measure passes and is implemented.

English for the Children of Arizona

Tel: 520-294-7212 Fax: 310-737-1959