Democrat

Arizona since: Birth.

Occupation: Member of Congress since 2002; Pima County Supervisor, 1989-2002.

Marital: Married (Ramona, retired).

Children: 3.

Religious preference: Catholic.

Education: B.A., sociology, UofA, 1987; Sunnyside High School, 1967.

Political experience: Pima County Supervisor, 1989-2002; Tucson Unified School District Bd of Supervisors, 1974-1986.

Political influence: Cesar Chavez taught many men and women of my generation, certainly not just myself, that positive social change comes from organization and working together for a common goal instead of going it alone. His example taught me that one bests serves his community through cooperation and coordination rather than trying to grab credit. I have tried to remember that important lesson throughout my career.

Top priority: I would have two: ensuring universal access to quality education, especially for historically underserved populations, and protecting our public lands from excessive mining and drilling. We can create good jobs and a well-trained workforce for the future of our country only if education is available to everyone and our economic priorities are in the public interest.

Respected opponent: Rep. Walter Jones from North Carolina earned my great respect, and that of many Democrats on and off Capitol Hill, for taking an early and very principled stand against our tragic wasting of life, money and resources in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has spoken eloquently for years about the need to bring our troops home, regardless of party loyalty or political considerations. He is true to his word and has not been shy about reaching across the aisle to accomplish what he believes in.

Job creation measures: The Restore the American Dream for the 99% Act, introduced by members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus late last year, would create more than 2 million jobs almost immediately in this country, not overseas, by upgrading our infrastructure, improving schools and other public facilities, and mandating that materials used through federal government contracts are manufactured here in the United States. At the same time, the 2012 Congressional Progressive Caucus “Budget for All” is a comprehensive national budget that corrects the terrible imbalance in our tax code, reallocates hundreds of billions of dollars in wasteful military spending to job creation, and makes significant investments in transportation, a Student Jobs Corps and other successful programs.

Illegal immigration: The DREAM Act, which gives children of undocumented immigrants who were less than 16 years old when they arrived, the opportunity to become full citizens after military service or attending college. Families who have already lived here for years must have a chance to apply for permanent residence after getting a thorough background check and a full grounding in civics and the English language. Improve guest worker visa processing and create a pathway for permanent residence for qualifying agricultural workers who otherwise travel great distances each season.

Federal deficit: The Progressive Caucus “Budget for All” plan and the Restore the American Dream for the 99% Act would put the country on the best economic path, both in the short and long term. Our plan has to include job creation to get people back in the workforce and paying taxes; closing wasteful corporate tax loopholes and ending public subsidies that give money to companies that don’t need it; bringing all our troops home from Afghanistan; and fixing the tax code to make sure the wealthiest don’t contribute the least any longer.

President Obama’s qualifications: No, and considering how many years we’ve spent discussing this neither should anyone else.

Libertarian

Arizona since: 1963.

Occupation: Air Force veteran; self employed paralegal, 25 years; small rancher.

Marital: Divorced.

Children: 4 adult children.

Religious preference: Christian.

Education: Tucson-Sunnyside High, 1977.

Political experience: Precinct committeeman; helped in both G.W. Bush campaigns.

Interests: Advocate for seniors and children in my community; provide assistance with legal matters to those less fortunate. My animals and my birds. My family and my God.

Political influence: Abraham Lincoln.

Top priority: Jobs creation.

Respected opponent: Lyndon B. Johnson for signing the Civil Rights Act.

Job creation measures: Reform of the regulatory commissions; corporate tax reform.

Illegal immigration: Immigration reform. Propose a bill that would allow undocumented individuals to become registered, known to our government, pay fees, fines and stop forcing tax payers to pay for the government’s irresponsibility and the inability to get things done. Immigration reform has the ability to bring up to $55 billion into our government through payment of fines and fees.

Federal deficit: Cap government grants, jobs.

President Obama’s qualifications: Although I do not agree with President Obama’s positions, our country elected a qualified commander and chief.

Republican

Arizona since: 2004.

Occupation: Congressional candidate since Feb 2011; small business owner since 2002.

Marital: Married (Ted, engineer).

Children: 3.

Religious preference: Christian.

Education: A.A.S., social services, Cochise College, 1997.

Political experience: Appointed precinct committeeman, 2009; elected precinct committeeman 2010; Pima County, GOP member at large, 2011; helped with McClung and Kelly campaigns, 2010.

Memberships: Pima County Republican Club; Tucson Republican Women; Oro Valley Republican Women’s Club; NRA; AZ Citizen’s Defense League; Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Interests: Politics; health & wellness; jewelry making; tennis.

Political influence: President Ronald Reagan.

Top priority: The repeal of Obamacare.

Respected opponent: President John Kennedy because of his resolve during the Cuban Missile Crisis and [for creating] the space program in the U.S.

Job creation measures: Extend the “Bush Tax Cuts” and replace the current tax code to stimulate growth in the private sector.

Illegal immigration: In the interest of national security, secure the border to stop the inflow. Provide a reasonable path to citizenship for those who have served in the military and/or are not criminals in the U.S. or their country of origin.

Federal deficit: Freeze spending at 2008 levels. Eliminate the automatic budget increases.

President Obama’s qualifications: I question his experience as nothing more than a college lecturer, community organizer and state senator.