Russell Pearce

Russell Pearce

Name: Pearce, Russell (Republican)

Phone: (480) 703-6700

Email: russellpearce@cox.net (www.russellpearce.com)

Address: 1247 E. Inca St, Mesa, AZ 85203

Age: 64 (6/23/47, Mesa, AZ)

Arizona since: Birth

Occupation: Current: Senate President; Past: Chief Deputy, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office; Pro-tem judge for Maricopa County Justice Courts; North Mesa Justice of the Peace; Arizona Motor Vehicle Division Director; Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Director.

Marital: Married (Luanne)

Children: 5

Religious preference: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Education: B.A., Management, University of Phoenix,1981. Received alumni of the year in 1997. Also attended JFK School of Government, Harvard; AZ Judicial College and AZ Supreme Court.

Political experience: Precinct committeeman; District 18 Executive Committee; GOP state committeeman; AZ Senate since 2009; AZ House, 2001-08.

Memberships have included: AZ Chiefs of Police Association; AZ Police Olympics; Boy Scouts of America; Fraternal Police Association; International Association of Chiefs of Police; Maricopa City Deputies Association; Mesa Senior Center; National Sheriff’s Association; Rotary Club.

Background & experience: I worked as a state agency director. I have been the chief deputy of the fourth-largest sheriff’s office in the nation with one of the largest county jail systems. I have been a judge, and I have worked as a laborer in the construction field. I have raised a family while continuing my education.

Interests: Constitution, softball, church, organizations for youth and elderly, rodeo.

Issues

Political influence:

Our Founding Fathers, President Ronald Reagan and an Arizona icon of the ‘60s, Barry Goldwater, Tom Freestone along with my brothers Lester Pearce and Richard Pearce and Cleon Skousen on the “Making of America” series.

Why are you the best candidate to serve District 18?:

During these troubled times, we do not need “on-the-job training” for our leaders.

I have the needed experience in state government and with the state budget to help guide our state. I also have a proven record of making the hard decisions and not avoiding them.

My fellow senators recognized this experience and track record when they elected me as Senate president.

And finally, my record best reflects the values of District 18 of promoting smaller government, protecting the traditional family and guarding our constitutional freedoms.

Describe your views on illegal immigration enforcement and how you plan to deal with it at the state level:

We are a nation of laws. We must have the courage – the fortitude – to enforce, with compassion but without apology, those laws that protect the integrity of our borders and the rights of our lawful citizens from those who break our laws.

The federal government has refused to fully secure our border and enforce our immigration laws. Arizona’s crisis is particularly galling because it was caused by the federal government funneling illegal aliens and drug trafficking through Arizona when it fenced off the El Paso and San Diego Sectors. Arizona cannot continue to bear this burden.

For example, roughly 15 percent of our state prison population is made up of criminal aliens and the federal government refuses to reimburse the state.

I have proudly led Arizona’s efforts to deter and decrease illegal immigration by, among other things:

(1) Deterring employers from knowingly hiring lower-paid illegal aliens instead of Americans by imposing sanctions and requiring the use of E-Verify.

(2) Stopping illegal aliens and their families from obtaining in-state university tuition subsidy and welfare benefits (passed by the voters).

(3) Protecting public safety by denying bail to criminal aliens (passed by the
voters).

(4) Protecting the integrity of voting system by requiring proof of citizenship (passed by the voters).

(5) Prohibiting “sanctuary” cities and allowing local law enforcement officers to enforce immigration laws as part of their normal duties.

(6) Increased law enforcement efforts to stop Mexican drug and human smuggling cartels.

What do you think of SB1070?

I am the author of SB1070 and I strongly support it. Likewise, public surveys have consistently shown that Arizonans and Americans strongly support SB1070.

SB1070 is based on the inherent right of state and local enforcement officers to assist in enforcing federal law, including federal immigration laws, when they are performing their normal duties. Not enforcing federal immigration laws is a form of “backdoor amnesty” for illegal aliens and will only encourage more illegal immigration.

SB1070 and other measures have decreased the illegal alien population in Arizona and decreased its burden on Arizona taxpayers. While still insufficient, the federal government has put the National Guard back on the border and increased Mexican cartel interdiction efforts in the Arizona desert in response to SB1070.

Without SB1070 and other state efforts, Arizona will be back to begging the federal government to solve a problem that it has refused to solve for decades. In other words, just talking to a federal government and Congress that won’t do anything; Washington, D.C. does not like tough decisions.

Budget recommendations:

Arizona faced one of the worst budget deficits, if not the worst, in the nation at the start of the Great Recession. Arizona state tax revenues were down by one-third while demands on state government were increasing. We have come through that crisis bruised, but still on our feet.

Just as many Arizona families have done, we have made the tough decisions necessary to balance our budget. As we face a slight revenue upturn, we must proceed with caution to keep a balanced budget in these turbulent times.

For the budget, our motto should be to “hope for the best, while preparing for the worst.” To accomplish this, we must continue to search for cost-saving ideas. For example, just recently the Department of Juvenile Corrections consolidated two facilities that will save money while increasing rehabilitative services to troubled youth.

And under no circumstances, should we bend to the free-spending special interests.

Other concerns:

Quality job creation:

Increasing quality job creation is our No. 1 job. For this reason, as Senate president, I led the enactment of this year’s Arizona jobs bill. This nationally-recognized act will increase Arizona’s economic competitiveness versus other states. Through this legislation, we are creating the environment in Arizona to retain and grow our existing businesses and attract businesses from other states.

Unlike Washington D.C., we are listening to employers and reacting to what they need. My goal is to make Arizona one of the most job-friendly states in the nation for employers.

Education:

Improving Arizona children’s educational opportunities is essential to Arizona’s future economic prosperity. I believe that children will learn best with a combination of involved parents and having the best teachers in the classroom.

We have not been sitting still. Arizona has adopted new, higher academic standards and will be replacing the AIMS test in the near future. We will also adopting a system to reward our best classroom teachers.

Public safety:

From my years in law enforcement, I know that the duty to protect our citizens from those who would do them harm cannot be compromised.

Conservative values:

I will continue to fight to protect the traditional family, the unborn and the right of parents to raise their families. I also have led the fight to expand Second Amendment rights in our state.

Fiscal philosophy:

I am a fiscal conservative. I was chairman of the Arizona State Senate Appropriations Committee for two years. During that time I helped steer the state from a fiscal disaster to where Arizona now has a balanced budget. This is one of the many reasons I was selected by my peers to be Senate president. My colleagues knew I would ably lead our state to a sound fiscal footing.

Pro-life/pro-choice:

I am 100 percent pro life and my record proves it.

One last thing:

Arizona stands in stark contrast to the continuing debacle in Washington, D.C. While the federal government refuses to make tough decisions, Arizona has. We have a balanced budget. We have a nationally-recognized jobs bill. We are implementing reforms to involve parents, reward good teachers, and toughen student accountability. And not least, we are leading the fight for the rule of law against illegal immigration and against federal inaction. It is no secret why the federal government does not take action – tough decisions upset people and, in particular, special interest groups.

It reminds me of the old saying by World War II pilots: “If you’re not catching flak, you’re not over the target.” I am over the target, and the special interest groups promoting this recall election are attacking. The proponents of the recall election are seeking to send a message to Arizona and the nation that we should go back. I disagree. I will continue to stand firm, listen and reflect the values of my constituents, clearly state my positions and always keep my promises.