Eric West

West, Eric (Republican)

Phone: (602) 350-6753

Email: eric.west@gmail.com

Website: www.VoteEricWest.com

4044 E. Alan Ln., Phoenix, AZ 85028

Age: n/a (birthplace: Michigan).

Arizona since: 1987-94; 2006-10.

Occupation: Real estate attorney, Jennings Strouss & Salmon, PLC.; assistant vice president and technology investment bank associate, Bank of America; financial analyst, Cornerstone Research.

Marital: Married (Susan, marketing executive).

Children: 2.

Religious preference: Catholic.

Education: J.D., Stanford Law School, 2002; MS, engineering, Stanford University, 1997; B.S., engineering, UofA, 1994; Corona del Sol High School, 1990.

Political experience: LD11 precinct committeeman since 2006; assisted with numerous Republican campaigns (e.g. phone banking for Sen. Kyl); member, Republican Jewish Coalition.

Memberships have included: North Gateway Village Planning Committee, 2007-10; Federalist Society, since 1999; American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Interests: Playing with my kids, hiking, travel.

Issues:

Political influence: President Ronald Reagan.

Budget recommendations: 1) Prioritize all government spending, focus on essential services and cut lower-priority programs. 2) Reform AHCCCS to make sure able-bodied recipients are engaged in job training or work. 3) Tort reform (i.e. reducing frivolous lawsuits) to encourage job growth and to reduce state litigation expenses.

Other concerns: 1) Education: We need to (a) analyze K-12 expenses and move spending into programs that have been demonstrated to improve academic achievement, (b) encourage parental involvement and investment through Education Savings Accounts, (c) retain new teachers and allow more flexible teacher certification, (d) remove or quickly retrain employees that are not performing to a high expectation, and (e) competitively bid the non-educational services of our K-12 system, including janitorial, transportation and food services. 2) Health care: I support (a) allowing the purchase of health insurance from any state, (b) reviewing mandates to enable competition, and (c) passing meaningful tort reform.

Fiscal philosophy: Arizona needs smart structural reforms that focus government spending on the essential priorities, demand accountability and transparency from our state agencies and produce more positive results for each and every tax dollar given to government.

Background & experience: Among engineering, finance and law, I have over 15 years of experience conducting and presenting qualitative and quantitative research. When I am ignorant of a given subject, I am smart enough to keep asking questions and reviewing the data until a solution has been reached.

Proposition 100 sales tax: I voted against the sales tax increase. Arizona needs structural reforms and the sales tax increase was not conditioned on, or associated with, any long-term reforms.

Pro-life/pro-choice: I oppose state funding of abortions. I support informed consent. I believe our state and our culture should encourage adoptions.

One last thing: I am a concerned neighbor frustrated by the status quo. Arizona must create an environment to support the growth of private companies and to encourage businesses to move here. As our friends and neighbors go back to work, the stress will diminish, the foreclosures will cease, and our investments will be able to grow again. We need legislators who will stop kicking the can and focus on serious broad-based reforms.

Campaign Finance: public.