Republican – Legislative District 1 House

Phone: (602) 703-2564

Address: 2979 Southpark , Prescott, AZ 86305

Age: 65. (06/23/49, St. Charles, MS).

Arizona since: 1983

Occupation: Retired; note-reader scopist (transcribed for court reporter); child care coordinator, Hoffmantown Baptist Church, Albuquerque; assistant manager, Kirtland AFB Golf Course.

Marital: Married

Children: 2

Education: B.S., sociology, B.S., recreation administration, University of Northern Colorado.

Political experience: Washington Elementary School Board.

Legis exp: Senate 2005-13; House 1997-2004.

Interests: Travel, hiking, church.

Two biggest issues: Improving our economy by reducing regulations and business property taxes. This would bring more job opportunities to Arizona. If Arizona has better jobs available that would mean more people off welfare and AHCCCS, thus having more revenue to increase teacher salaries and pay off some of Arizona’s debt.

Budget priorities: See previous answer.

Fiscal philosophy: The borrower becomes the lender’s slave. The amount of someone’s debt is the same degree that the individual’s liberty is diminished. Frugality produces liberty. I believe in a helping hand but not continual handouts. For those that are able to work they should be responsible for their own care. Education and hard work is the route to financial prosperity.

Common Core: Arizona should implement a high educational standard. In the past a large group of teacher and educational leaders got together to set the standards for Arizona. These should be the standards for our children and not a mandated standard from the federal government with strings attached. Curriculum should be up to the local school boards and not the federal government.

Gifts to elected officials: The expense of a trip should be listed on the financial form. I really don’t think a boxed lunch on the lawn with lobbyist or constituents with a specific issue is the determining factor on whether to vote on that issue or not.

Transparency in government: I totally support the open meeting laws and think it is a citizen government and information should be available to the citizenry.

Pro-life / pro-choice: I am pro-life. In the Declaration of Independence it says, “We hold these Truths to be self evident, that all men are CREATED equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among them LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Life is an inalienable right that can’t be bartered or sold.

Public policy advice: A lot of different people. David Barton with Wallbuilders, who has one of the largest private collection of our Founding Fathers documents that has provided a wealth of information on the intent of our great United States of America. The Fee Market system instead of what the Pilgrims started with their little socialism project that failed because of near starvation when people didn’t work. The third year the governor told them they had their own property and had to work and were able to keep what they produced on their own. In three years they had tripled what they produced the first year on their land. The Bible is my other source of wisdom.

Gray, Linda

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