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Gov. Doug Ducey issues order against Tucson COVID-19 vaccine mandate for city workers – The Arizona Republic

Gov. Doug Ducey Monday issued an executive order warning city and county governments they cannot require their employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine, a not-so-veiled response to a new Tucson ordinance.

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, in turn, called the governor’s order “legally meaningless.”

It’s yet another standoff in the state’s raging debates over policies to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The Tucson City Council last week voted 6-1 to require that city employees must show proof of at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Aug. 24, or face a five-day suspension without pay and possibly higher health-insurance premiums.

In his order, Ducey noted one of the budget-related bills that passed in June bars cities, towns and counties from requiring COVID-19 vaccines. However, that measure, Senate Bill 1824, does not become law until Sept. 29. Executive orders take immediate effect.

The legislation echoes provisions of an executive order that Ducey, a Republican, issued earlier this year prohibiting vaccine passports and blocking any local government actions that would require a COVID-19 vaccine. However, Ducey rescinded that order in early July after he signed the Senate bill.

Still, the governor asserts in Monday’s executive order that he has the authority to block Tucson, given the powers the state has under law during an ongoing public health emergency.

Democratic Tucson Mayor Regina Romero is seen at the State of the State address at the Arizona Capitol, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, in Phoenix.

Romero, a Democrat, chided Ducey for what she called “a deadly game of one-upmanship” that will lead to more hospitalizations and deaths as the virus continues a surge statewide.

“Gov. Ducey is paving the way for COVID-19 to spread uncontrollably throughout our state, and attempting to impede those of us who believe in science-based solutions at the local level,” she said in a city-issued statement.

Tucson City Attorney Mike Rankin compared the order to the Pima County mask requirements that Ducey unsuccessfully tried to block by issuing an executive order after the fact, Rankin wrote in the statement issued with Romero.

C. J. Karamargin, a Ducey spokesman, said Monday’s order should serve as a “timely reminder” to cities to not start down the vaccine-mandate path. 

The order indicated violation of the yet-to-be-instituted law is a class 3 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and fines of up to $500. Karamargin said he didn’t know who would prosecute, but added, “hopefully it won’t come to that.”

Cities encourage vaccines for workers

No Valley cities are publicly considering a vaccine requirement, and there are no blanket mask mandates. But cities such as Chandler are urging their employees to get the vaccine.

“It is the surest form of protection against COVID-19,” city spokesman Matt Burdick said in an email. “However, we recognize that obtaining a vaccine is a personal health decision.”

Tucson officials said the ordinance came after a survey found that as many as 1,000 city employees were not vaccinated. The council set a Friday deadline for at least 750 of those staffers to provide proof of vaccination, or else the vaccine mandate will take effect for all workers.

In a statement, the Arizona Medical Association lamented the political nature of the COVID-19 debate.

“As Gov. Ducey specifically stated when he issued the order, all Arizonans should get the vaccine — it’s safe, effective and free. That’s the message we want the public to hear.”

Reporters Joshua Bowling, Renata Correa Clo, Paulina Pineda and Taylor Seely contributed to this story.

Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter @maryjpitzl

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