Age: 65. (12/25/46, Cleveland, OH).

Arizona since: 1993.

Occupation: Small business owner, Southwest Bar Soap, since 1995.

Marital: Married (Vivian, office manager).

Children: 3.

Religious preference: Jewish.

Education: B.A., political science, The Ohio State University; Cleveland Heights High School, 1965.

Political experience: Helped with the Rodney Glassman campaign for U.S. Senate in 2010; the Kit Filbey campaign for AZ House in 2010; volunteer for Citizens for a Better Arizona.

Memberships: Did not respond.

Interests: Politics, reading, volunteering.

Political influence: Growing up in the 60′s, I would have to say that Robert F. Kennedy has been the most influential person in my political development. With all of his family’s wealth, I firmly believe that he was genuinely interested in and cared about the less fortunate and oppressed members of our society.

Job creation measures: Tax credits for small and medium size businesses and improved education standards for our young people so that they can be better prepared to enter the always changing and highly competitive workforce.

Top Issues: I would concentrate on making Arizona a better place for our citizens by improving our public schools so that they will rank at or near the top in the nation. Also, I would work very diligently to restore middle class values and restore middle class families back to the level where they were, so that once again they will be the backbone of our cities and our state.

Prop 100 sales tax extension: I’m in favor of extending the temporary sales tax. The tax was passed and the monies dedicated to the states educational system, health agencies, and public safety. Those areas should not face any cuts.

Illegal immigration: I would be an advocate for The Dream Act or some form of it. Immigrants that come to our state for a better life and have shown that they’ve obeyed our laws and worked hard and expressed a desire to become U.S. citizens should be put on a path to realize their goal. For those who don’t obey our laws, they must be dealt with accordingly.

Background & experience: With my sales background, I have always been able to put people at ease before focusing on the business at hand. Also, I take pride in being a better listener than talker. In other words letting people open up about their issues and concerns.

Pro-life / pro-choice: I am pro choice. I believe that women’s sexual health concerns are a matter between her and her doctor.

One last thing: I am eager to work with the voters of Arizona to improve the image of our state. We have become a joke and it’s time that our leader do positive things to take Arizona into the 21st century. Arizona should not be a “national embarrassment” but rather a “national treasure.”

Campaign finance: public.

Republican

Age: 33. (01/01/79, Mesa, AZ).

Arizona since: Birth.

Occupation: Tax analyst, Apollo Group, since 2010; senior research analyst, AZ Tax Research Assn, 2007-2010; congressional aide, U.S. House of Representatives, Office of Congressman Trent Franks, 2005-2006; real estate sales agent, American Realty Brokers, 2002-2005.

Marital: Married (Karyn, homemaker).

Children: 6.

Religious preference: LDS.

Education: B.S., biology, ASU, 2004; Mountain View H.S., 1997.

Political experience: Precinct committeeman, 2004-2006; campaign volunteer for many Republican candidates and conservative causes.

Legis exp: House since 2011.

Interests: Politics, family, church, recreation.

Political influence: It is difficult to identify one person as the most influential. Individuals that have shaped my political development include Ronald Reagan, William F. Buckley Jr., Milton Friedman, Cleon Skousen, Ezra Taft Benson, Adam Smith, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, and many others.

Job creation measures: To encourage job creation in Arizona, I support reductions in the tax and regulatory burden that government places on businesses.

Top Issues: As a legislator, my priorities are low taxes, fiscal responsibility, and economic growth.

Prop 100 sales tax extension: I oppose extending the temporary sales tax increase. Voters were promised a temporary increase when they voted to support the measure in 2010. Arizona should keep this promise.

Illegal immigration: Arizona needs to continue to stand by the measures it has passed in recent years that discourage illegal immigration.

Background & experience: As a senior research analyst for the Arizona Tax Research Association prior to serving in the Legislature, I worked diligently to hold the line against tax increases and to advocate for job-creating tax cuts. As a state representative, I have continued this effort. I have worked to protect Arizonans’ hard-earned tax dollars. I have worked to reduce the high tax burdens that repel businesses from the state. Since resigning from ATRA to run for the Legislature, I have been employed as a tax analyst for the Apollo Group. Processing property and income tax returns for the Apollo Group and its subsidiaries gives me a real world perspective of the impact government decisions have on the private sector.

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

One last thing: I am a fourth generation Arizonan. I was born and raised in Mesa where I now live with my wife, Karyn, and our six children. I received my education from Mesa Public Schools and graduated with honors from ASU. Since being elected to the Legislature, I have sponsored bills to reduce taxes on sales, property and income. I have been a vocal advocate of fiscally responsible state budgets. I sponsored and successfully shepherded the governor’s personnel reform through the Legislature. My pro-business and limited government positions have been recognized with awards and endorsements from various chambers of commerce and other conservative organizations.

Campaign finance: private.

Republican

Age: 37. (01/06/75, Mesa, AZ).

Arizona since: Birth.

Occupation: Labor and employment attorney, Jackson Lewis, LLP, since 2010; Ford & Harrison, LLP, 2007-2010; Lewis and Roca LLP, 2004-2007; judicial law clerk, the Honorable Charles E. Jones, Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, 2003-2004.

Marital: Married (Cortney, homemaker).

Children: 4.

Religious preference: LDS.

Education: J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 2003; B.S., accountancy, ASU, 2000.

Political experience: Precinct committeeman since 1993; vice-chair and area leader, LD 19 Executive Bd; assisted in various volunteer capacities for multiple Republican candidates running for various offices over the last 20 years.

Legis exp: House since 2011. Appointed 5/25/11 to replace Kirk Adams.

Memberships: Federalist Society, J. Reuben Clark Law Society, State Bar of Arizona.

Interests: Outside of politics and law, I enjoy spending time with my wife and four children, especially in the Rim Country of Northern Arizona. I also enjoy playing the guitar, working out, and participating in various sports.

Political influence: Ronald Reagan. I became a fan of the president at an early age. I have read much about the life of this great man and am convinced that his integrity, love of country, and understanding of, and ability to communicate, the proper role of government made him one of the greatest presidents our country has ever known.

Job creation measures: I would support the elimination of the state capital gains tax as a way to encourage investment in Arizona, which in turn should cause the private sector to expand and create jobs. Additionally, I believe that lowering, flattening, and possibly eliminating the individual income tax will bring business to Arizona and spur job creation.

Top Issues: I will concentrate my efforts toward reforming our state tax policy and working toward improving educational opportunities for both children and adults.

Prop 100 sales tax extension: I oppose extending the tax. First, a promise is a promise, and the tax was sold to the voters as a temporary measure. Efforts to extend the tax would be nothing more than a “bait and switch” and would lessen the public’s already low confidence in public leaders to do what they say they are going to do. But aside from the promise of the tax being temporary, Arizona has one of the highest sales tax rates in the country. We cannot tax ourselves into prosperity, and I will always work toward easing the tax burden on our citizens.

Illegal immigration: With the passage of laws like SB 1070, I believe most of what can be done to address this situation on the state level has been done. But that does not mean we do nothing. The border must be secured, and we’ve shown that it can be done. That’s going to require cooperation from the federal government. Consequently, we need to work with federal leaders to ensure, among other things, that the funds necessary to secure the border, which includes funds necessary to finish the fence, comes to Arizona.

Background & experience: Aside from the fact that I am a sitting legislator, my business and legal education, together with my real world experience as a judicial law clerk at the Arizona Supreme Court and now a partner in one of the largest law firms in the country, has given me a unique perspective on the law, which I believe is valuable to my constituents and Arizona as a whole.

Pro-life / pro-choice: The first of the “self-evident” unalienable rights listed in the Declaration of Independence is the right to life. Thus, I am unapologetically pro-life and will always stand between the abortioner’s knife and the innocent baby to protect that baby’s right to life.

One last thing: Outside of politics, I have served in various capacities working on behalf of charitable organizations as well as a basketball and soccer coach to young kids. My prior service should give the voters confidence that they will be represented by someone who cares deeply about our community.

Campaign finance: private.