Bower, Rusty

Republican – Legislative District 25 House

Phone: (480) 984-6305

Email: russellwbowers@yahoo.com

Address: 8831 E Quill St , Mesa, AZ 85207

Age: 61. (10/20/52, Mesa, AZ).

Arizona since: Birth

Occupation: East Valley Institute of Technology, since 2011; AZ Rock Products Assn, 2001-10; self-employed artist.

Marital: Married

Children: 7

Education: Post-graduate courses, ASU; B.F.A., Brigham Young University, 1982.

Legis exp: Senate 1997-2001, majority leader, 1999-2001; House 1993-97.

Interests: Family and church, art, nature and outdoors, reading, building trades, orchard keeping, hunting.

Two biggest issues: Budget and appropriations: Get out of debt, restore fiscal soundness, assist appropriations process to that end.

Budget priorities: Fund necessary state obligations and work to reduce and remove obligations that should not be borne by the state. Restore austerity to remove structural deficits coming at the state. Demand that all new initiatives carry their own funding.

Fiscal philosophy: Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.
Pay your debts – don’t spend more than you earn.

Common Core: Demand high standards that are reachable for our people. A goal is not a goal if it is not reachable.
Review ACCRS for standards that will lift our educational goals. Form our own methodology to address our deficiencies and have the courage to follow through. Reject one-size-fits-all attempts to “fix” education. Quit yo-yoing of our teachers with “flavor of the month” solutions to education.

Gifts to elected officials: Full disclosure of all gifts to public officials.

Transparency in government: This is a democratic Republic. Officials’ actions should be open to constituents, but not edited for spin.

Pro-life / pro-choice: I am against abortion.

Public policy advice: Prayer for wisdom and discernment, study for historical perspective and guidance, engage best folks that I can find who are knowledgeable and thoughtful on subjects of concern – seek their perspective.