Huppenthal breaks down in tears over blog posts

Arizona public-schools chief John Huppenthal invoked the word "honor" repeatedly Wednesday before leaving his news conference in tears after apologizing for controversial Internet comments.

A short time later, a group of community leaders said the honorable thing for him to do would be to resign as superintendent of public instruction over his anonymous online blog responses that have drawn fierce criticism.

Huppenthal apologized several times during his hastily called news conference at the Arizona Department of Education headquarters in Phoenix, saying he "renounced and repudiated" the comments he had posted on blogs.

But he was adamant that he would not resign or quit his race for re-election, in which he faces a Republican primary challenge.

"I plan to go forward in service, both in the service I'm in and on the election front," he said.

Huppenthal's posts, made under the pseudonyms Falcon9 and Thucydides, generated controversy last week after he acknowledged he had written them. In his harshest remarks, made in 2011, he called people who receive public assistance "lazy pigs" and compared the work of Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger to the actions of the Nazis. Another anonymous post from 2010 surfaced this week in which Falcon9 said Spanish-language media should be shut down.

He began his news conference by saying,"I realize fervently and more powerfully than ever that all of my actions both in my official role and privately need to bring honor to the great work being done by teachers on behalf of students. They need to bring honor to principals leading schools and especially they need to bring honor to all the great work being done in this agency."

He said he was especially upset that his comments hurt the Department of Education staff.

"That hurtfulness is in a number of ways," he said. "I've thought about it deeply, especially given my comments about bringing honor to the system. Obviously, my hurtful blog comments didn't do that. ... The person I feel most for, to the point of my own tears, is my assistant."

Huppenthal then began crying. A moment later, he was whisked away, and the news conference ended.

He was referring to his chief of staff, Merle Bianchi, who has answered reporters' questions about his blog posts.

An hour after Huppenthal's appearance, business and education leaders held a news conference and called on Huppenthal to resign.

Former state Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Graham Keegan, a Republican; Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Gonzalo de la Melena; law professor and Roosevelt School Board member Lawrence Robinson; Phoenix lawyer Daniel Ortega and south Phoenix business leader Michael Kelly called on Huppenthal to step down.

Ortega called Huppenthal's online comments "antiquated" and "ignorant."

"Huppenthal does not practice the basic ideals we expect to instill in our children," he said.

Keegan said she thinks many Huppenthal supporters are "reeling" with emotion as they try to reconcile the schools chief they thought they knew well. She believes more will speak out against the blog posts in the future.

"He is a smart man who does good work," she said. "I was sick when I saw the posts."

De la Melena said Huppenthal's negative comments about Spanish-language media could damage Arizona's trade relationship with Mexico, a business partner the state and local governments are trying to cultivate.

In his news conference, Huppenthal addressed the 2010 blog post on Spanish media, saying that he fervently believes that speaking, reading and writing English is the best way to advance in the United States, and that he feels "less tension" about Arizona's success in teaching English now than he did four years ago.

When asked about his "lazy pigs" comment, he said: "I think a lot about economics and how do we create opportunity. ... That in no way shape or form excuses the way I expressed those sentiments. That's why I repudiate those blog comments. It's OK to talk about policy. It's not OK to talk about people."

Among those skeptical of Huppenthal's tearful regret is state Rep. Martin Quezada, D-Phoenix, and president of the Pendergast Elementary School District governing board.

"It appeared that he was regretful, but at the end of the day we have to ask ourselves, 'What exactly is he remorseful for?' That he made those comments in the first place or that it's become such a big deal?'"

Quezada said it's too late for Huppenthal to restore the faith in those who have been harmed by the comments and, as a result, Huppenthal should resign.

"He's damaged the trust and the confidence the community has in him to treat all kids as equals in the public-school system," Quezada said.

Two others involved in politics said that Huppenthal should not resign.

Huppenthal did the right thing by facing the public in a news conference and taking questions about his blogging behavior, said Stan Barnes, a consultant and former GOP lawmaker who served with Huppenthal in the Arizona Senate in the 1990s.

But his anonymous comments, although an "awful misjudgment," are not cause for resignation, Barnes said.

"Absolutely, he should hang in there," Barnes said. "It's not something to resign over, especially on the doorstep of the primary election."

It's better to let voters decide, Barnes said, adding that he chalks up some of the calls for resignation to opponents who are trying to score political points.

"A lot of this noise is from people who never liked John Huppenthal in the first place," he said.

Rep. Paul Boyer, R-Phoenix, said Huppenthal's fate should be in left in the voters' hands.

"My gut feeling is let the voters decide," said Boyer, a member of the House Education Committee.

Huppenthal told The Arizona Republic several hours before the news conference that he is dismayed the anonymous comments came to light because one of his top motivations in the school superintendent's job is helping disadvantaged students. He is known for strong stands in favor of the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards, formerly known as the Common Core Standards — which aim to prepare all students for college, technical school or jobs after graduation — technical education and charter schools that help students who might have dropped out get diplomas.

"Other politicians have folded like a wet paper bag" on the new standards, he said. "I've crisscrossed the state supporting Common Core, which was not in my interest politically."

Many conservatives oppose the initiative, including his opponent in the Republican primary, Diane Douglas. She has said that if elected, she would roll back the standards. The primary is Aug.26.

Democrats running for the position are David Garcia and Sharon Thomas.

Huppenthal's work on behalf of the new standards drew praise from the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which was to have given him an award last week. Chamber officials canceled that plan after news about the blog posts appeared in The Republic.

Garrick Taylor, chamber senior vice president of government relations and communications, said Wednesday that the board has not met since the decision to cancel the award. He said he did not know whether the board would discuss joining other business leaders in asking Huppenthal to resign.

Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry president and Chief Executive Officer Glenn Hamer became tearful himself during an interview with The Republic last week, when he explained why the chamber was canceling plans to honor Huppenthal for his commitment to K-12 academic standards.

"I am in extreme pain over this conversation," Hamer said, pointing out that the posts contrasted sharply with thoughtful conversations he had with Huppenthal about the need to educate every Arizona child for college or a career after high school.

Huppenthal said he didn't mind criticism directed at him personally.

"I don't mind getting beat up; I've been in office a long time," he said. "That comes with the territory."

Huppenthal has been in political office since 1984, when he was elected to the Chandler City Council. He served in the state House and Senate before being elected to his current post.

Huppenthal's political career has been punctuated with other controversies.

In February, he drew criticism for recording a series of robocalls promoting Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, where families can apply for money from the state to spend on private-school tuition. Days later, he released a statement saying he didn't mean for the calls to make anyone in public education feel unappreciated.

In 2008, Huppenthal was charged with two misdemeanors for cutting down a campaign sign that was critical of him near a polling place on Election Day. He won re-election and was acquitted by a Chandler judge of theft and tampering with a campaign sign. At the time, he said he believed his actions were legal.

Republic reporter Mary Jo Pitzl contributed to this article.