Republican

Age: 62. (06/05/50, New York, NY).

Arizona since: 1993.

Occupation: Director and professor, criminal justice program, Scottsdale Community College.

Marital: Married (Linda).

Children: 2.

Religious preference: Roman Catholic.

Education: Ph.D., criminal justice, Rutgers, 1992; M.A., government, St. John’s University, 1978; B.A., liberal arts, NYU, 1973.

Political experience: Town Council service, nine years; Parks and Recreation Commission; School Planning Commission; Bd of Health; Senior Services Bd.

Legis exp: House since 2007.

Memberships: American Legion, Academy of Criminal Justice Studies.

Interests: Basketball, reading and travel.

Political influence: Ronald Reagan because of the way he articulated conservative principles in a simple, informative, persuasive and, often, humorous way.

Job creation measures: Additional tax cuts and tort reform.

Top Issues: Jobs creation and illegal immigration.

Prop 100 sales tax extension: I oppose its extension. Taxes kill jobs creation and the state can get by without that tax.

Illegal immigration: We need to secure the border to stop the influx of illegal immigrants, an influx that will grow again as the economy comes back, and step up internal enforcement of immigration laws, which will begin after SB1070 is vindicated in the Supreme Court.

Background & experience: I have been interested and active in politics – conservative politics – since I was in high school, which has provided me with a lifetime of practical experiences. In addition, I have a Master’s degree in government and a Ph.D. in criminal justice, which has enhanced my knowledge of public policy. Finally, I have nine years of experience as a town councilman, six years experience as a state representative and too many years to count experience serving on government boards and committees. It all helps a lot.

Pro-life / pro-choice: I am pro-life and believe that abortion should only be legal to save the life of the mother, should she so choose.

One last thing: My entire life has been devoted to public service. Beyond the political activities I detailed above, I served with a volunteer ambulance corps in high school, drove and attended on a NYC emergency ambulance throughout college, was a cop for 20 years, and am now a college professor. All of this is about service and giving back to a country that has given me an awful lot.

Campaign finance: private.

Republican

Age: 31. (06/28/80, Scottsdale, AZ).

Arizona since: Birth.

Occupation: Commercial real estate agent.

Marital: Married (Frank).

Children: 3.

Religious preference: Christian.

Education: B.S., business administration, ASU, 2004.

Political experience: None.

Legis exp: House since 2011.

Memberships: Junior League.

Interests: Cooking, gardening, working out, meeting with lobbyists, spending time with family.

Political influence: My greatest influence has come from my father, who instilled in me the principles of self-reliance and hard work, an appreciation for competition, and to have a keen sense of humor. These virtues have been my greatest asset in politics.

Job creation measures: Deliver a balanced budget every fiscal year. Never again can we allow expenditures to get so out of hand that we are plunged into unmanageable debt, imperiling everything that the people of Arizona have worked so long and hard to build. We need to reform our tax structure so that Arizona becomes more attractive as a destination for businesses that are fleeing high-tax states like California. We also need to make it easier for existing businesses to grow, thrive, and add jobs. Ultimately, it is the private sector that will lead us out of these hard economic times – managed economies never work. For instance, increasing the business personal property tax exemption will go a long way towards improving our competitive position.

Top Issues: Regulatory reform: Part of government’s role should be to scrutinize our regulatory environment and ensure that we have enacted only those regulations that are absolutely necessary to protect the public and [to create] a level playing field for all businesses. Education reform: Nothing is more critical to a community’s future or indicative of that community’s values than how it educates its young. We need to be sure that, while we deal with our current financial crisis, we safeguard our schools and ensure that precious funds make their way to the teachers and classrooms, not constantly growing administrative bureaucracies.

Prop 100 sales tax extension: I oppose extending the tax because the promise made to voters in 2010 was that the sales tax would be a temporary three-year relief from an unprecedented economic collapse. I want to keep the promise made to the voters. I am optimistic that Arizona’s economic future will continue to improve and with a sound fiscal approach, we will not have to consider additional taxation.

Illegal immigration: I have enormous respect for the rich cultural heritage of the Hispanic community in Arizona and all they have done to help build our state and America. Mexico is our neighbor and ally, not our enemy, and all Americans, not just Arizonans, must nurture and help grow our relationship to the best of our ability. But, I also believe very strongly that we cannot compromise the responsibility we have to the residents of Arizona by allowing our vital resources to be recklessly abused and depleted by people who are here illegally from Mexico or any other country. Under strong Republican leadership, Arizona can continue to implement policies that demonstrate a commitment to the rule of law. Ultimately, there will need to be a Republican administration in the White House that prioritizes the security of our southern border. Until the federal government demonstrates a willingness to secure the border and implement an effective guest worker program, illegal immigration will continue to be one of the most prevalent challenges facing Arizona.

Background & experience: My parents raised me to understand at an early age that there is no such thing as what you “deserve” in life but rather what you have “earned” through hard work and sacrifice. This philosophy prepared me for my academic requirements, my professional career in the highly competitive commercial real estate industry, and for the professional challenges required to be an effective legislator.

Pro-life / pro-choice: I am pro-life.

One last thing: Go to www.michelleugenti.com to learn more.

Campaign finance: private.