Republican

Age: 69. (02/11/43, Youngstown, OH).

Arizona since: 1989.

Occupation: Former president, Ahwatukee Chamber of Commerce, 1996-2006; small business owner 1989-1996; corporate executive 1965-1989.

Marital: Married (Karen).

Children: 2.

Religious preference: Presbyterian.

Education: B.A., liberal arts, Colgate University, 1965.

Political experience: Precinct committeeman; candidate, state Legislature, 2002.

Legis exp: Senate since 2011; House 2005-2010; majority leader 2009-2010; majority whip 2007-2008.

Memberships: Chair, Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee; Ahwatukee Kiwanis.

Interests: Hiking, spectator sports, reading and spending time with grandchildren.

Political influence: Rep. Bob Robson, who mentored me when I was new to the legislative process.

Job creation measures: Further reduction of the corporate property tax and elimination/reduction of business regulations.

Top Issues: Strategic increases in funding for K-12 and colleges/universities. Renovation of the “old Capitol” so that it can house legislative functions and offices.

Prop 100 sales tax extension: Oppose. We made a promise that it would be for three years.

Illegal immigration: Complete the border fence, either with a structure or electronically. Pass a guest worker law.

Background & experience: I have eight years of legislative experience, including two years as majority whip and two years as majority leader in the House. I know how the system works and how to get things done.

Pro-life / pro-choice: I oppose abortion except in cases of incest or rape.

One last thing: I do not have a job outside the Legislature and will be able to devote 100% of my energies to serving the people of Dist 18 and our state.

Campaign finance: private.

Democrat

Age:: 67. (b 02/23/45, Lima, Peru).

Arizona since: 1954.

Occupation: Adjunct faculty, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, since 1995; teacher, Mesa Public Schools, since 1978; state director, National Education Assn, since 2006.

Marital: Married (Frank Bing, retired).

Children: 2.

Religious pref: Did not respond.

Education: M.S., aeronautical science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Dayton Beach, 2006; Ph.D., communication arts, ASU, 1993; M.A., education, ASU, 1980; reality therapy, Reality Therapy Institute (Santa Monica, CA), 1977; B.A., elementary education, UofA, 1967.

Pol exp incl: Did not respond.

Memb have incl: Nat’l Council of Teachers of English, past president; AZ English Teachers Assn; Int’l Federation of Teachers of English; Nat’l Education Assn; AZ Education Assn; Mesa Education Assn; Phi Delta Kappa. Interests: Reading, travel, TaeKwonDo.

Political influence: Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman in the United States to serve as majority leader in a state senate and the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. In both those capacities, she set the standard for working together with people of vastly different points of view to resolve issues in a way that could benefit everyone.

Job creation measures: Job creation in Arizona can be encouraged by supporting local Arizona businesses. Additionally, a highly qualified workforce, graduates of a quality education system, will require quality jobs in Arizona.

Top issues: The Arizona Legislature needs to concentrate on creating quality jobs in Arizona and on funding a quality education system, pre-K through university.

Prop 100 sales tax extension: When the current state Legislature slashed public education funding so dramatically, it forced voters to fund quality education and jobs by extending a temporary sales tax increase.

Illegal immigration: Arizona needs to work with the federal government to implement comprehensive, sensible immigration reform that will move Arizona forward.

Campaign Finance: private.