Judy Burges

Judy Burges

Burges, Judy (Republican)

Phone: (623) 214-3725

Email: burges@myexcel.com

6913 Windmill Rd., Skull Valley, AZ 86338

(Mail: PO Box 123, Skull Valley, AZ 86338)

Age: 66 (7/27/43, La Junta, CO).

Arizona since: 1960.

Occupation: Finance office, Yavapai County, 1984-96; budget coordinator, Cyprus-Bagdad Copper Company, 1976-81.

Marital: Married (Bob).

Children: 3.

Religious preference: Lutheran.

Education: MBA, University of Phoenix, 1996; B.A., management, University of Phoenix; A.A., general studies, Yavapai Community College.

Political experience: Precinct and state committeewoman; Republican Women of Prescott; Sedona Republican Women; Highway 69 Republican Group; Sun City West Republican Group; 2nd vice chair, Yavapai Republican Committee; Mountain Valley Republican Women; AZ House since 2005.

Interests: Quilting, sketching, collects pink Depression-era glass, unusual plates and antiques.

Issues:

Political influence: There have been many, but the two most influential have been Carol Springer and Russell Pearce. I have the upmost respect and admiration for their service to the citizens of Arizona.

Budget recommendations: Keep spending increases proportionate to population and inflation growth, enforce the constitutional debt limit, and revisit funding formulas; reform government agencies and reduce the size and scope of the bureaucracy.

Other concerns: Job creation, sealing the border and building the fence. I raised my right hand and swore to uphold the Constitution and the laws of Arizona. It’s my constitutional duty to protect the citizens of Arizona.

Fiscal philosophy: Government spending does not create one single dollar worth of new money in our economy. The governor and the Legislature must be vigilant as caretakers of the taxpayer dollars to make sure that the money is spent wisely and only where necessary.

Background & experience: Work experience in the private and public sector compiling multimillion-dollar budgets, and performing auditing and accounting functions.

Prop. 100 sales tax: Oppose. A recent study from the Beacon Hill Institute estimated that a one-cent sales tax would cost our state 14,400 jobs a year, economic output would decline by $1.2 billion and raise our sales tax in many cities higher than those in New York and San Francisco. Struggling families need jobs and relief from higher taxes. Earlier this year the Legislature brought forth a bill that would have permanently eliminated the equalization tax, reduced personal income tax from 4.54 percent to 4.24 percent and corporate income tax from 6.97 percent to 4.86 percent in exchange for a temporary three-year sales tax increase. While many people feel that this is a tax giveaway to big business, “reliable studies show that states with lower or no income tax have significantly higher wage gains and greater productivity over time. Texas, Florida and Tennessee have no income tax and have been economic high-flyers in recent decades.” Arizona needs to put out the welcome sign to attract new businesses as we can no longer depend on the construction industry to be our top economic engine. Diversification of industry and jobs is necessary to bring Arizona back and keep our economy on track.

Pro-life/pro-choice: While abortion is a very personal issue between a woman and her doctor, I am opposed to abortion unless it is to save the life of the mother. With modern contraceptives, it is much easier to prevent an unwanted pregnancy than to use abortion as a means of birth control.

One last thing: The voters of LD4 hired me to do a job for them — a job that included safeguarding their families, their future, their money, their homes and their businesses. I will never quit fighting for: the solvency of this state, your right to be protected against terrorism, our children’s future and to leave Arizona a better place. That is what our forefathers bled and died for and why our young men and women are fighting around the globe, and I will never abandon them. I have one of the very best jobs in state government. My favorite part of the job is being able to help people solve problems.

Campaign Finance: public.