Rick Gray

Rick Gray

Gray, Rick (Republican)

Phone: (623) 340-8091

Email: rick.gray@cox.net

Website: www.voterickgray.com

9521 W. Cedar Hill Cir., Sun City, AZ 85351

Age: 59 (1/16/51, Omaha, NE).

Arizona since: 2006.

Occupation: Owner, Acacia Plumbing, Inc., since 2006; owner, RG Plumbing, 1999–06; manager, Micro Plumbing, 2001–03; division leader, Trinity Church Interdenominational, 1998–99; owner, Midwest Plumbing & Drain Cleaning, Inc.

Marital: Married (Lisa, administrative asst).

Children: 4.

Religious preference: Christian.

Education: M.A., organizational leadership, Crown College, in process; B.S., organizational leadership and biblical studies (dual major), Grace University, 2000; A.A.S., business management, Metro Community College, 1993; certificate in teacher training, Metro Community College, 1992.

Political experience: Precinct & state committeeman; 2nd vice chair, LD9; governmental chair, Sun City Homeowners Association.

Memberships have included: Sun City Republican Club; Sun City Homeowners Association; Sun City Taxpayers Association; Peoria Rotary Club; National Rifle Association; AZ State Association of Parliamentarians, AZ Aqua Fria; AZ Citizen Defense League; Fraternal Order of the Moose; North Phoenix Vineyard Church.

Interests: Politics, reading, travel, exercise, guitar.

Issues:

Political influence: On a macro level I would say it was Ronald Reagan.

Budget recommendations: Privatize where possible to cut costs, such as state parks. Look at co-pay fees for AHCCCS recipients. Eliminate funding of lobbyists for state agencies.

Other concerns: Business tax policy reform. Business regulatory reform.

Fiscal philosophy: I’m a fiscal conservative and I favor the Austrian rationale to the Keynesian.

Background & experience: Being a small business owner has taught me the importance of strategic planning, looking at the whole picture, and being aware of the unintended consequences of decisions. It has also shown me that government can either encourage or hamper businesses by the policies it puts in place.

Prop. 100 sales tax: I voted against the tax increase. I believe we will find the income projections were overly optimistic and we will not see the revenue we were promised. I have also seen the evidence of the constriction on the economy that taxes have and the negative impact they bring.

Pro-life/pro-choice: I believe that life begins at conception and abortion is the ending of a life.

One last thing: I am a businessman, not a politician. I can honestly say that I’m not running to make a political career. I’m running to make a difference. I would be honored to have their vote on August 24 and to represent the people of District 9 at the Capitol.

Campaign Finance: public.