Arizona’s Senate president has responded sharply to comments made by the state’s Democratic attorney general regarding the future of golf, as the battle for top law enforcement official heats up ahead of the midterm elections next week. The attorney general, Kris Mayes, suggested that there might be too many golf courses in Arizona, which sparked a significant debate on water conservation and became a focal point in the campaign. Senator Warren Petersen accused Mayes of targeting a lucrative industry vital to the state’s economy, while she claimed her words were misrepresented.
Petersen stated, “Kris Mayes thinks Arizona has too many golf courses. Meanwhile, I think Arizona has too many radical politicians who think it’s their job to decide which industries succeed.” He emphasized the importance of golf courses for employment, tourism, and local businesses, urging Mayes to concentrate on enforcing laws instead.
Mayes, during an interview, addressed concerns about the impact of water-intensive buildings like data centers, suggesting that neighboring states with governmental backing hinder Arizona’s water supply. Her commentary on golf courses coincided with warnings of a potential Supreme Court case regarding Colorado River water allocations.
“We could definitely make greater strides in terms of conservation,” she asserted, proposing tax incentives to remove lawns and implement water catchment systems.
Her remarks about golf sparked rebuttals from Petersen and others, including Representative Eli Crane, who joked about a “democrat problem” in Arizona instead of a golf course issue. Petersen countered Mayes in a tweet, asserting he aims to eliminate her position rather than the golf courses.
A CEO in the procurement software space expressed that Arizona actually needs more golf courses due to rising demand post-COVID, and critics underscored the positive impact golf has on the state. Arizona’s Chamber of Commerce highlighted that golf contributes $6 billion to the economy, supporting around 66,000 jobs while using only 2% of the state’s total water resources.
Mayes’s comments elicited significant backlash, even prompting satire from a golf-related site which claimed it demonstrated a misstep in her campaign. Individuals from the golfing community have indicated her statements may cost her voter support, emphasizing a lack of understanding regarding golf’s economic contributions.
In response to the uproar, Mayes clarified that her intent was regarding broader water usage issues, stating, “Relax, nobody’s closing golf courses.” She argued for incentives to help all industries become more water-efficient in light of worsening water scarcity.
However, this rebuttal was also ridiculed, with some finding her tone condescending and others comparing her stance to communist ideologies. As Election Day approaches, Petersen seems hopeful that the controversy over Mayes’s remarks will resonate with voters, aiming to frame it as a struggle against government interference in Arizona’s economic landscape.
