Democrat

Age: 45. (08/23/66, Phoenix, AZ).

Arizona since: Birth.

Occupation: Small business owner.

Marital: Married (Gregory Taylor, mechanical engineer).

Children: 3.

Education: B.A. and Master’s degree, political science, ASU; attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; Xavier College Preparatory.

Political experience: Two runs for House in 1994 and 1996; vice-chair, District 16, since 1997; precinct committee work since 1995.

Legis exp: Senate since 2007; asst Dem leader since 2011; House 1999-2006; asst Dem leader 2003-04; Dem whip 2001-2002.

Memberships: Founder and vice-president, Landrum Foundation; senior adviser, AZ Children’s Assn; alumna of American Council of Young Political Leaders; Aspen-Rodel Fellow; founder, AZ African American Legislative Days.

Political influence: Art Hamilton, as he was a brilliant strategist and worked very well across the aisle and within his own caucus.

Job creation measures: My first measure would be to sponsor legislation that provides incentives for employers that hire individuals that either are veterans or who have been unemployed. In following, I would sponsor legislation that provides additional incentives for small businesses to expand, thus being able to hire more employees.

Top Issues: My priorities are job creation, health care access for those in need, education and child welfare needs.

Prop 100 sales tax extension: I favor extending it for a longer period of time as this would directly help education.

Illegal immigration: I find U.S. immigration policy in need of reform at the federal level. I envision this policy to be comprehensive and effective, while continuing to keep our borders safe.

Background & experience: As a 10 year adjunct faculty member of Maricopa Community Colleges and owning my own preschool, this has aided me in keeping with current educational needs as well as needs and concerns of small business owners.

Pro-life / pro-choice: As my voting record has shown, I am pro choice. In addition, I have always been a proponent of parents having to authorize a minor to have an abortion, except in cases of incest.

One last thing: As a fourth generation native Phoenician, I am indebted to the great state of Arizona as it has provided me and my family with great opportunity. However, I want to ensure that opportunity continues to be there for all future generations of Arizona – and this is what motivates me to serve each and every day. More importantly, this is precisely why I will continue to fight for education until it is a cornerstone of Arizona – as I know our children are truly our best investment and path to a prosperous future.

Campaign finance: private.

Age: 37. (03/18/75, Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan).

Arizona since: 1992.

Occupation: Business consultant/small business owner, CSA Inc., since 2006; brokerage compliance principal & risk analyst, AIG Advisor Group INC., 2006-2007, a year with Merrill Lynch and seven years with Charles Schwab & Co.

Marital: Married (Daniel, consultant and candidate for AZ House of Representatives (Dist 27)).

Children: 3.

Religious preference: Catholic.

Education: M.B.A., global management, University of Phoenix, 2004; B.A., history, B.S., political science, ASU, 1998.

Political experience: Republican precinct & state committeeman for LD16 since 2006; chair, Bd of Appeals, 2004; bd member, Risk Management Fund, City of Avondale, 2004; campaign volunteer, John McCain (1997), Jane Hull (1998) and Howard Dean (2004); campaign chair, Vote Dan Coleman in 2006 & 2010; 1st vp, Central Republican Women’s Club.

Memberships: Junior League of Phoenix, NRA, United States Polo Assn, AZ Tea Party, Smart Girl Politics, Cub Scouts of America.

Interests: Civics, history, volunteer work, equestrian polo, cattle ranching, raising my children.

Political influence: The most influential person in my life has always been me. I was diagnosed as dyslexic in the 3rd grade; however, prior to that my teachers decided I was bright, but just lazy and therefore not succeeding in reading/writing. Even at that age, I was comfortable telling those in “authority” that was wrong and did not accept their pronouncement. I have always stood up to those who abuse their positions in ways that are neither morally nor legally compliant with the rules and expectation of their positions.

Job creation measures: I believe the easiest way to stimulate the market place is by freeing it to act naturally rather than trying to control uncontrollable forces. I support reducing, if not eliminating, corporate tax within the state in order to encourage more corporations to establish headquarters here. I also support developing an undergraduate educational system that is designed to produce “ready to work” students through STEM programs and trade-focused high schools.

Top Issues: Education reform – I support privatizing public schools, as charter schools have shown far greater results with far less resources. I support reducing school administrators and reappropriating those wasted funds into teacher salaries to promote professional educators. I support immediately restructuring our school to provide trade-focused high schools and implementing STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) focused programs in our primary grades, beginning with preschools. Insurance for All – I support creating group policies with several private insurance companies. Citizen’s of Arizona are eligible to join, with 100% of the premium the responsibility of the insured.

Prop 100 sales tax extension: I oppose supporting our government’s habit of demanding a raise from its boss (the citizens) BEFORE attempting to reduce its expenses. The state of Arizona, and all governments, needs to learn to live within their means and set an example of responsible fiscal behavior for its citizens.

Illegal immigration: Until the federal government upholds its constitutional duty to secure our borders, it is the state of Arizona’s duty to use every resource legally available to ensure the protection of its citizens. No one living here, no matter how successfully or how long they have been able to do so illegally should be allowed to continue living/working here. It is fundamentally unfair of the government to punish those (and their families) that are legally seeking citizenship and have been delayed due to the waste of resources that the illegal immigrants place on the system.

Background & experience: I have been a professional “rule maker” for most of my career. I am well-versed in interpreting, crafting and implementing complex regulation that is most beneficial to protecting the client, while maximizing the corporation’s ability to function. I have been very successful at building both internal and external relationships within my professional life and feel this will serve me well while building strong relationships with my constituents and civic partners.

Pro-life / pro-choice: I believe the natural purpose of sex is procreation. If you willing engage in sex, you should be prepared for the natural consequence. I agree with the private use of birth control and the “morning after pill.” I do not believe that a woman has the right to terminate her child’s life, nor does she have the right to terminate the life of someone else’s child. As our state demands that fathers be equally responsible for their children after birth, they should have the same right to that child in utero.

One last thing: My husband, Dan Coleman, and I are running in this election without a realistic chance of winning. We are running because it is the right thing to do. Our district has been purposely designed to force Democrat officials upon the entire district, and in most elections they have been uncontested and have been unaccountable to their constituents. We feel this is fundamentally wrong and are standing up for everyone to promote real political discourse and to give our neighbors an actual choice at the polls.

Campaign finance: public.