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Russel Pearce
Pearce, Russell (Republican)
Phone: (480) 703-6700
Email: russellpearce@cox.net
1247 E. Inca St, Mesa, AZ 85203
Age: 63 (6/23/47, Mesa, AZ).
Arizona since: Birth.
Occupation: Full-time legislator; chief deputy, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office; pro-tem judge for Maricopa County Justice courts; North Mesa JP; state Motor Vehicle Division director; Governor’s Office of Highway Safety director.
Marital: Married (Luanne).
Children: 5.
Religious preference: LDS.
Education: B.A., management, University of Phoenix, 1997; JFK School of Government, Harvard; also attended Motor Vehicle Legal and Law College, Colorado; Adv Exec Development (ASU); Budget & Appropriations (UofA); AZ Judicial College, AZ Supreme Court.
Political experience: Precinct committeeman; executive committee for District 18; GOP state committeeman; AZ Senate since 2009; AZ House 2001-08.
Memberships have included: American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, vice presdident for Western region; AZ Auto Theft Investigators Association; 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; Multi-State Highway Transportation Association; National Association of Gov’s Highway Safety Reps; National Sheriff’s Association; Rotary Club; Trans Users Leadership National Alliance.
Interests: Softball, church, organizations for youth and elderly, rodeo.
Issues:
Political influence: On a national level, President Ronald Reagan, and locally several: Tom Freestone, Sheriff Dick Godbehere, my brother Lester Pearce, Richard Pearce and then also Cleon Skousen on the Making of America series.
Budget recommendations: Simply cut spending by reducing government programs, create efficiencies and cut fraud and abuse. Republican legislators have chosen policies that manage the state’s finances in a manner that prepares government agencies for the near-term realities of the state’s tax collections, while doing no harm to an ailing and fragile economy upon which state government relies.
Other concerns: Passing some real budget reforms and spending control measures. Also reducing taxes to create an environment that is conducive to productivity and that is by lowering taxes and reducing the regulatory burden on businesses.
Fiscal philosophy: Create a smaller, more efficient government that promotes productivity and the free market concepts with as little government intervention as possible.
Background & experience: I worked as a director of a state agency; I have been the chief deputy of the 4th largest sheriff’s office in the nation with the 4th largest county jail system. 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.
Proposition 100 sales tax: I oppose it. Raising taxes is usually a bad idea, and in a recession it is even a worse idea. My position regarding taxes is clear and well-documented. I am unalterably opposed to raising taxes, and I hold as a core conviction that we are over-taxed as citizens of this country.
Pro-life/pro-choice: I oppose abortion and the only exception is when the mother of the child is in danger. Then it is a very tough but private family decision.
One last thing: Promises made, promises kept. I have been vigilant in the defense of our constitutional liberties, freedom and the rule of law. I was the author of “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhood Act,” which removes all sanctuary policies in Arizona and allows law enforcement to enforce our laws. I wrote the citizen’s initiative known as Protect Arizona NOW, which required proof of citizenship to register to vote. I also authored: Arizona’s Fair and Legal Employment Act; Arizona’s employer sanctions legislation; Prop. 100, a constitutional amendment to refuse bond to any illegal alien who commits a serious crime in Arizona; Prop. 102 to require that any illegal alien who sues an American citizen cannot receive any punitive damages; and Prop. 103 making English the official language of Arizona. I also sponsored legislation on abortion, private property rights, 2nd Amendment rights and many more. I was recognized as the top legislator by the Americans for Prosperity as Hero of the Taxpayer, and I have been consistently rated in the top every year that I have been in the Legislature. I was recognized by the Goldwater Institute as the #1 legislator who “proved to be the strongest ally…against government encroachment on liberty,” and I was rated the #1 legislator by the Pachyderm’s Coalition.
Campaign Finance: private.