The Democratic candidate in the Arizona gubernatorial race, Fred DuVal, is having a rough final stretch into Election Day. Earlier this week, The Washington Free-Beacon reported he had a house foreclosed. Last week, he announced that he believes it is perfectly acceptable for 14-year-olds to have abortions without parental consent.
And now, documents obtained from the Arizona Board of Regents show that the six years Fred DuVal was on the Arizona Board of Regents (2007-2012), things didn't go the way he claims.
In three different instances, DuVal said that the increase in Arizona college tuition was because of higher enrollment and budget cuts. The Arizona Board of Regent's records on budget and spending tell a different story.
DuVal claimed during a 12 News Debate that "record levels of new enrollment" and budget cuts were the sole reasons for tuition increases.
These tuition increases for Arizona public universities were no small amount.
Arizona State University's residential tuition rates doubled, a 107 percent increase from $4,700 to $9,700. Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona also saw over 100 percent increases during DuVal's time on the board.
In one of his YouTube videos and in an interview with The Arizona Republic, DuVal blamed current Arizona governor, Jan Brewer, and the state legislature for cutting $400 million from universities forcing the cost onto students.
Yes, DuVal was correct when he said enrollment was higher. The total number of students at Arizona universities rose 16.6 percent over his six years. But higher enrollment can't be blamed for such drastic increases...Liberal spending played the lead role.
When DuVal joined the ABOR, the state appropriated $860 million in general funds for the universities. Collective spending during the six years DuVal was on the board was up $300.8 million. Five of the six years DuVal oversaw spending for Arizona's universities, spending was higher than the first year he was appointed to the Board of Regents.
Items in yellow represent the fiscal years that DuVal oversaw:
And when money is spent recklessly, borrowing is usually reckless as well.
There was a 286 percent increase in borrowing during DuVal's time on the board.
During DuVal's time, the state issued $1.463 billion in bonds. Compared to the previous six years prior to DuVal, the ABOR only requested and had approved $409.5 million in bonds.
Education has been one of the defining issues facing Arizonans this election season and this new information on Fred DuVal and his time on the ABOR could swing voters.