GAYNOR SAYS COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES FOR POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS WILL CREATE PUBLIC SAFETY EMERGENCY
Gaynor calls upon Governor to issue executive order to stop COVID-19 vaccine mandates, and call special session of state legislature
(Phoenix, AZ) – Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Gaynor today called upon Arizona Governor Doug Ducey to immediately stop the City of Phoenix and any other Arizona government entity from enforcing COVID-19 vaccine mandates by issuing an Executive Order similar to now rescinded EO 2021-09, and calling a special session of the Arizona Legislature to re-enact legislation banning COVID-19 vaccination mandates passed earlier this year and thrown out by the courts on procedural grounds.
“With police and firefighter levels near or below force minimums across the state, Arizona is already facing a public safety problem. Enforcing a vaccine mandate will precipitate a public safety crisis as first responders either retire, resign, or are terminated because they have made the personal choice not to be vaccinated. That’s unacceptable and dangerous.” Gaynor said.
“Governor Ducey rescinded a number of Executive Orders relating to the public health emergency presented by COVID-19 after the legislature passed and he signed legislation that prohibited school districts and charter schools, universities and community colleges, and the state or any county, city or town, from requiring a COVID-19 vaccination or to show proof of receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. Unfortunately, those laws were labeled as budget reconciliation bills and were struck down by the courts, leaving a gap in what the Governor and Legislature intended as Arizona law.
“Now the City of Phoenix has said it will move forward with a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all employees on January 18, 2022. I call upon Governor Ducey to take immediate action, issue an Executive Order similar to EO 2021-09, and call the legislature into session to re-enact previously passed and signed law to fix this problem before we lose any more police and firefighters who work so hard to protect us and our communities,” Gaynor said.
For more information, contact press@gaynorforgovernor.com, or visit gaynorforgovernor.com.
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