Elections 2014 Just another Arizona Capitol Times Election Coverage site

Republican – Legislative District 5 House

Phone: (928) 486-4831

Email: [email protected]

Address: 2650 Diablo Drive, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86406

Age: 55. (03/19/59, Rochester, NY).

Arizona since: 2000

Occupation: Lake Havasu City, councilmember, 2010-12; U.S. Marine Corps (retired), 1977-99; commissioner, Military Rodeo Cowboys Assn, 1988-99; former small business owner.

Marital: Married

Children: 3

Education: Some college; Chatsworth High School, 1977.

Political experience: None.

Legis exp: House since 2013.

Interests: Veterans advocate, boating, fishing.

Two biggest issues: Jobs. We need to attract more manufacturing businesses, which also bring supporting business, such as transportation and logistics. This is why HURF funds must be re-instated, and no longer swept.
Federally controlled public lands being returned to state control. With a team of legislators and the governor, pressure Congress to uphold that promise of state control made many years ago.

Budget priorities: Since we have separated CPS from the Dept of Economic Security, I think this is a great opportunity to downsize DES and eliminate redundancy.

Fiscal philosophy: Fiscally conservative. The state should be allowing funds belonging to cities and towns to be returned to those cities and towns, where they can be used for their intended purposes. Spending should be on a “need to have” basis, not a “nice to have”.

Common Core: Local control is guaranteed under the state Constitution, not controlled by federal mandates.

Gifts to elected officials: Did not respond.

Transparency in government: Transparency is vital to good government. The First Amendment should be protected. However, excessive “freedom of information” requests should not be misused or punitive in nature on political subdivisions.

Pro-life / pro-choice: I choose life.

Public policy advice: There is not one particular person. I have a network of public and private sector colleagues on local, state and federal levels from whom I receive input. It is critical to me to gather as much information as possible so that I am able to make a considered decision.

Independent – Legislative District 22 House

Phone: (415) 971-4730

Email: [email protected]

Website: bothaforarizona.com

Address: 23024 N Giovota Drive, Sun City West, AZ 85375

Age: 69. (03/13/45, Harare, Zimbabwe, Africa).

Arizona since: 2005

Occupation: Small business owner, Business Systems Strategies Corporation, since 1995; Think Differently – It Hurts LLC, since 2005.

Marital: Married

Children: 4

Education: M.S., computer science, 1979; M.B.A., finance, information systems, University of Cape Town, 1977; B.A., Latin, sociology, University of South Africa, 1967.

Political experience: None.

Interests: Computing, foreign travel, hiking, surfing, biking, running, swimming, tennis, golf.

Two biggest issues: The two biggest issues facing Arizona’s future are the lack of awareness by the legislators and the voters, first, of the opportunities available to tackle the challenges of the future – term limits, financial control, education, health care – and, second, of the dangers of not tackling or even discussing these challenges. If elected, I plan to be noisy in a quiet way, making sure that the state and federal legislators and all voters become aware of these challenges and the options, incentives, limits and controls necessary we have to take to address them.

Budget priorities: My budget priorities are to reduce our dependence on federal handouts, to balance our budget each year, to pay off all debts and to contribute to a rainy day fund. We need to set up a group of five representatives from business, individual taxpayers, education, health and the rest to set their respective income and expense components of our 1 year, 5 year and 10 year state budgets for our Legislature. Fighting fires each year by wheeling and dealing is too dangerous.

Fiscal philosophy: Manage our state and federal finances exactly as we manage our own personal finances. Make a profit each year and set options, incentives, limits and controls to ensure we save for the rainy days in the future. Never under any circumstances steal from our children and our families without informing them beforehand and being prepared to serve jail sentences later.

Common Core: Developing students ready for the ‘smart ideas’ computing-based economy of the future depends mainly on students’ enthusiasm and determination to learn. These qualities come mainly from family and talented teachers – Common Core standards are not determinants or critical. We need to work with the federal government to set our own specific goals for our state within their Common Core standards.

Gifts to elected officials: Public service is free service to the public. Using opportunities in public service for personal gain is simply not on. We need 2-4 year term limits on all senior public service positions and maximum salaries of $96k per year. Officials then have wonderful opportunities to join the private sector in their own or others’ businesses for their personal gain.

Transparency in government: All senior public service officials and legislators should provide full disclosure of their financial, education and health records.

Pro-life / pro-choice: I wish every unborn child the chance to be born alive, and I wish every mother the chance to make her own decision about herself and her unborn. My mother had six miscarriages before she persisted and stayed in bed for six months to have me. If there is a clash and the mother decides to have an abortion, she might be smart and, first, to look at the option of adoption and, second, to record her views – she might need to revisit them later. In the same way we all need to record our views on our own education, health, employment and family, before taking major decisions – we might need to revisit them later. Making excuses and blaming our families, friends, neighbors and government is not acceptable. We are moving from government sponsored education and health care handouts to self family, friends, neighbor sponsored programs.

Public policy advice: Examples of policies of successful business and government and public officials as well as views of family, friends and neighbors.

Democrat – Legislative District 22 House

Phone: (623) 546-2514

Email: [email protected]

Address: 12503 W Banyan Dr , Sun City West, AZ 85375

Age: 72. (02/24/42, Denver, CO).

Arizona since: 2000

Occupation: Currently retired. Social worker, Hospice of the Valley, 2003-13; former instructor, University of Denver and ASU graduate schools of social work; retired as an administrator at the Division of Child Welfare, State of Colorado.

Marital: Married

Children: 2

Education: Master’s degree, social work, University of Denver, 1972.

Political experience: None.

Interests: Political activist, volunteering, travel, outdoor enthusiast, bicycling, hiking, writing.

Two biggest issues: Arizona’s child protection system is broken. As a former executive in Colorado child protective services, I understand the problems and know solutions, including gaining additional federal funding. Education is Arizona’s second greatest challenge. Funding cuts should be restored and all types of education delivery systems need standards and to be held accountable.

Budget priorities: Child protection services, adult protection services, and education are priorities. I would maximize federal funding. I would reduce profits for private prisons.

Fiscal philosophy: I am a moderate. I believe in a balanced budget. I also believe government should create a desirable place for businesses to flourish and jobs to develop. Quality health care is essential to a flourishing economy. Community safety for children and seniors must receive adequate funding.

Common Core: School districts have already spent three years and countless dollars to implement the standards. There is more work to do, as the standards must articulate with the education programs and the evaluation system. The standards should continue to be researched and evaluated to prove their effectiveness. The U.S. and Arizona economies require a well-educated work force. College and career readiness makes good sense. Programs should also be directed toward matching education with workforce needs.

Gifts to elected officials: I believe elected official should not receive gifts.

Transparency in government: I am a strong supporter of transparency. The Legislature represents the people and the public deserves access, active participation and input.

Pro-life / pro-choice: I am pro-choice, recognizing that this decision is best made between a woman, her family and her doctor.

Public policy advice: I research widely. I depend of the League of Women Voters to take well-considered positions on issues. I also look to the American Association of University Women for guidance.

Republican – Legislative District 20 House

Phone: (480) 577-0078

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.boyeraz.com

Facebook: Paul Boyer

Twitter: @BoyerAZ

Address: 2244 W Michigan Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85023

Age: 37. (05/06/77, Phoenix, AZ).

Arizona since: Birth

Occupation: Professor, University of Phoenix, since 2013; supervisor of district communication, Mesa Public Schools, 2011-13; communications specialist, Arizona House of Representatives, 2008-11; legislative liaison, AZ Dept of Corrections, 2005-08.

Marital: Single

Education: M.A., communication studies, ASU, 2011; B.A., English, ASU, 2003; Associates, Calvary Chapel Bible College, 1998.

Political experience: Precinct committeeman, 2006-08 & 2011-12; field representative, Bush Cheney 04 Inc., 2004; intern, Congressman John Shadegg, 2003.

Legis exp: House since 2013.

Interests: Mountaineering, rock climbing, hiking, weightlifting, Greek & Latin, reading the classics, philosophy.

Two biggest issues: Prop 105 reform and economic development. Prop 105 is a generational issue that we will necessarily have to address at some point, without which we will never be able to honestly balance our budget and will continue to struggle with structural and cash deficits. Our needs and priorities change as a state and no Arizonan should be beholden to initiatives passed by previous voters who may no longer reside in Arizona. A recent Gallup survey saying 1 in 5 Arizonans will move out of Arizona in a year, we should give current Arizona voters the opportunity to weigh in on their priorities. I will work on a ballot referral, garner critical support, gain earned media, and talk to every voter I can about this issue. Regarding economic development, we need to find the states that are successful and model what they’re doing. This includes properly funding core government services. I’d also like to see a businessman on the 9th Floor and wholeheartedly support Doug Ducey for governor.

Budget priorities: Public safety and education. It’s extremely difficult to cut expenditures given our needs as a state and the little discretion the Legislature has in state spending due to statutorily driven and voter protected spending. Therefore, one key way to increase revenue is Prop 105 reform and economic development through fair and equitable, broad-based tax relief and recruiting businesses from less business friendly states.

Fiscal philosophy: Government is responsible for core, necessary services and should foster the conditions that allow businesses to thrive including stable and predictable tax environments. Tax credits are like tax increases – they rarely go away so we ought to be very judicious as a legislative body when passing future tax credits. Conversely, I support equitable and broad based tax policies.

Common Core: Unfortunately, Common Core was approved during a time of great fiscal need. The Legislature took many steps to fund education, including accepting A.R.R.A. dollars during our worst crisis in state history to backfill some of those cuts. It was during this time that Arizona was under the thumb of No Child Left Behind and desperately needed funding that we applied for Race to the Top funding. Now, we are threatened by the feds with pulling our NCLB waiver if we opt out of CC standards as the state of Indiana has. I’ve consistently supported higher standards as a piece of the puzzle to help improve the quality of Arizona’s education generally but am not convinced Common Core is the right vehicle to get us there. So I believe we ought to halt and study CC since we cannot so easily opt-out without penalty and given how standards drive curriculum. Student success is driven by two factors – parental involvement and quality teachers. We ought to focus aggressively on the latter.

Gifts to elected officials: As County Attorney Bill Montgomery recommended, I would like to see a single reference point in law for lobbyists and legislators that clarifies what, if any, types of gifts are permissible, and establishes consistent definitions of gifts and items that require disclosure. I would also like to see a more easily navigable reporting system on the Secretary of State’s website that would allow the public to see who has accepted an actual gift without having to buy the data. This means we would need a less complicated data compilation and reporting system that no doubt means a new or upgraded IT system for reporting requirements.

Transparency in government: This is very important, of which we already have a great resource with ALIS, where anyone from the public can view live proceedings from our azleg.gov website. I would like to see a 24-hour floor amendment deadline that would give members and the public the ability to study them before they go to the floor instead of having to quickly analyze them and depend on the summary sheet that only the members receive immediately before Committee of the Whole.

Pro-life / pro-choice: I am against the taking of life and believe we ought to protect life no matter what stage of development. Certainly no tax dollars should ever go towards funding an abortion.

Public policy advice: It depends on the issue. For social issues, I turn to authors Robert George, Frank Beckwith and Ryan Anderson. For fiscal issues, I highly respect Congressman Paul Ryan and his work as the House Budget chairman. I also read the Wall Street Journal daily in addition to First Things and City Journal. On health issues, I read Kaiser and Milliman reports and talk with Senators Kelli Ward and Nancy Barto. However, as with all issues, no matter what I read or who I talk to, I’m looking for a good argument whose conclusion necessarily follows from its premises, contains no informal fallacies and whose premises are more plausible than their negations. I want to hear the best case for both sides of an issue, synthesize the information and come to a solid conclusion so I can vote with conviction. Given the speed with which we pass bills, it can sometimes be difficult to be thoughtful, which is why I spend so much time reading reports, papers and talking with those knowledgeable of the issues.

Democrat – Legislative District 10 Senate

Phone: (520) 429-3062

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.bradleyforarizona.com

Address: 5909 E 3rd St, Tucson, AZ 85711

Age: 61. (11/13/52, Seattle, WA).

Arizona since: 1957

Occupation: Chief development officer, La Frontera Arizona, since 2011; CEO, La Paloma Family Services, 1993-2011; private behavioral health care consultant, 1991-93; administrator, Ramsey Canyon Psychiatric Hospital, 1986-91; therapist, CPS, 1985-86; therapist, Palo Verde Hospital, 1980-85; U.S. Navy, cryptologist, 1972-80.

Marital: Married

Children: 4

Education: M.B.A., University of Phoenix, 1996; M.S.Ed., counseling, Old Dominion University, 1979; B.S., psychology, University of Maryland, 1977.

Political experience: Precinct committeeman since 1992; chair, Pima County Democratic Party, 2001-02; president, Democrats of Greater Tucson, 1997-99; worked on numerous campaigns.

Legis exp: House since 2013; House 2003-10.

Interests: Sports, reading, gardening.

Two biggest issues: Comprehensive tax reform. In the 12 years that I have been involved in the Legislature, it remains the number one issue that, until it is dealt with, makes all other issues secondary. I will continue to encourage the leadership of both parties to make it a priority. Comprehensive sentencing reform. Similarly, our growing prison population has to be dealt with at the front door. Mandatory and truth-in-sentencing laws have increased our prison population many fold since their inception. The majority of the discretionary funds of the Legislature are being eaten up by this situation. We have to change the trajectory of the number and type of people being imprisoned. I will continue to encourage the leadership of both parties to deal with this ‘third rail’ issue.

Budget priorities: Education throughout the lifespan should always be the number one priority of the state. Through comprehensive tax and sentencing reform, enough resources can be allocated to meet this priority. The infrastructure of the state including roads, schools, water storage and delivery systems, utilities and health care facilities must be a priority. We have short-changed our capital needs for the last ten years at least. We need to invest before it is too late.

Fiscal philosophy: I believe government should do all that it can do to lift people up from poverty and then step back and let them grow in the free market. Government cannot and should not meet every need, but it has to contribute consistently and comprehensively to the common good by providing educational opportunities for people throughout the lifespan, ensuring that the infrastructure of the state is adequate to attract and retain commerce and ensure that public safety and health are perpetual priorities. Comprehensive tax reform that reduces dependence on sales tax and evenly distributes the tax burden in income and property tax should be a priority.

Common Core: Arizona should continue the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards because they are a reasonable foundation to build the public education system upon. That does not mean that the state should invest inordinate amounts on testing of individual students. It should however have a reasonable way to gauge the success of schools to meet the standards in whatever way they see fit and provide for remediation to those schools who struggle to meet the standards. The education system must leave enough of its resources to provide for the development of its students into good citizens, which is the primary purpose of an education that includes the arts and physical education as well as core studies.

Gifts to elected officials: With the exception of the lunches on the lawn, which I think are helpful to people to get to know their legislators, everything else can go. There are no other perks necessary for the job.

Transparency in government: The Legislature in general and legislators in particular should be open books in regard to their government functions. All of the money spent in campaigns is a terrible waste and could be better used in so many ways. All donors to all political entities should be made public regardless if they are contributing to individual campaigns, PACs or other political entities. The state budgeting should be open to the public and made part of the regular legislative process instead of being completed beyond closed doors with little input as it has the last few years.

Pro-life / pro-choice: The focus of the abortion debate should be on establishing and building upon common ground. No one wants unintended or unwanted pregnancies to occur. The focus should be on preventing that through science-based sex education, teaching individuals, particularly the young, about the need to make good decisions, promoting the values of families and faith-based organizations in everyday life and the availability of appropriate contraceptives. Neither extreme position in the abortion debate provides much opportunity to find that common ground. Like many issues, people have to stop screaming at one another and do what makes sense to prevent unintended and unwanted pregnancies.

Public policy advice: Usually to legislative colleagues who I have come to trust over the years followed by experts in a particular field regarding a specific public policy. I also rely on my own research and try to always keep in mind that my initial inclinations may be wrong and need to be substantiated or altered through objective research.

Republican – Attorney General

Phone: (602) 618-4307

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.mark4az.com

Facebook: Mark Brnovich

Twitter: @mark4az

Address: 3217 E Shea Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85028

Arizona since: 1968

Occupation: Currently a full-time candidate and stay at home dad; director, AZ Dept of Gaming, 2009-13; assistant U.S. attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, 2007-09; director, Center for Constitutional Government, Goldwater Institute, 2003-05; assistant attorney general, 1998-2003; prosecutor, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Gang/Repeater Unit, 1992-98.

Marital: Married

Children: 2

Education: J.D., University of San Diego, 1991; B.S. (cum laude), political science, ASU.

Political experience: None.

Interests: Outdoors, hiking, fantasy football, traveling and reading.

ALL – Public policy advice: There isn’t just one person I admire for public policy because each policy is different. What I do is surround myself with the best people in each policy area. Surrounding yourself with good people is what makes people successful.

Republican – Legislative District 5 House

Phone: (928) 757-9190

Email: [email protected]

Address: 921 Crestwood Ln , Kingman, AZ 86409

Republican – Legislative District 16 House

Phone: (480) 982-7226

Email: [email protected]

Website: votedougcoleman.com

Facebook: Doug Coleman

Address: 1474 S Royal Palm Rd , Apache Junction, AZ 85119

Age: 57. (12/20/56, Phoenix, AZ).

Arizona since: Birth

Occupation: Career and technical education teacher, Apache Junction H.S., since 1984.

Marital: Married

Children: 6

Education: M.A., vocational education, 1989; B.A.E., business, office, and distributive education, ASU, 1981; A.A., general studies, Mesa Community College, 1979; Westwood High School, 1974.

Political experience: Apache Junction, city councilman, 2008-12 and 1991-95; mayor, Apache Junction, 1995-2007; president, Arizona League of Cities & Towns, 2006-07.

Legis exp: House since 2013.

Interests: Duncan YoYo champion; amateur radio operator, KI7LP; long distance running.

Two biggest issues: Economic development and education. If elected, I will continue to push for Arizona to become even more competitive when compared with other states in being able to attract and retain businesses. I will push for policies that encourage jobs and job creation, including economic development tools and strategies. Education should be viewed as an investment, rather than an expense. I will support innovative educational programs, school choice, accountability, and an A+ school for every Arizona student. Making higher education available and affordable is also a top priority. Promoting these priorities will take a commitment of effort and resources.

Budget priorities: Restoration of HURF and other infrastructure needs is a top priority for me, as well as meeting our educational needs for both K-12 and higher education. I believe that we need to focus on economic development and increasing the number of trade opportunities for our state. We have done much to streamline the process by way of Transaction Privilege Tax reform, which makes it easier for business to operate in our state. We need to continue to look for ways of improving and diversifying the economy and providing a well-educated and trained workforce.

Fiscal philosophy: I am a fiscally responsible conservative.

Common Core: I believe that the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards are a good investment for Arizona. There has been much said about the development of the standards, and many of the arguments against focus on curriculum, which is not what the standards are. Curriculum is, and should be, left up to the local school boards and communities. Arizona took a leading role in the development of the standards. If anything, they are Arizona’s standards and other states are adopting them. In looking at the standards, I believe that they focus on much needed and valued critical thinking skills, which is why the business community supports them.

Gifts to elected officials: I believe our laws regarding gifts to those in elected office provide a great deal of transparency and should be commended, but improvement is always needed and desired. I would support legislation requiring more detail and greater access to the current reports.

Transparency in government: Public policy and the public’s business should be conducted in public and made available to the media for reporting.

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

Public policy advice: Trusted family, friends, local elected officials, and my constituency.

Democrat – Legislative District 19 Senate

Phone: (602) 315-1899

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.cotera4az.com

Address: 10933 W Bermuda Dr , Avondale, AZ 85392

Age: 50. (07/15/63, Erie, PA).

Arizona since: 1967

Occupation: Principal investigator, Carl Sagan Center for the Study of Life in the Universe, since 2003; lecturer, ASU, 2002-03, 2013; research associate, Steward Observatory, UofA, 1998-2002; National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1995-98.

Marital: Married

Education: Ph.D., applied physics, Stanford University, 1995; B.S., engineering science, University of Texas, Austin, 1986; B.A. (Honors), liberal arts, University of Texas, Austin, 1986; Flagstaff High School, 1981.

Political experience: Emerge Arizona graduate, instructor and board member, since 2007; Kyrene ESD override campaign consultant, 2013; Continue the Quality PAC, 2008-13, 2 bond and 3 override campaigns; Tolleson Union High School District, Override campaign 2010; Arizona legislative campaigns, 2008, 2010.

Interests: I enjoy hiking throughout the state and spending time gardening. I also enjoy bringing astronomy into classrooms and holding star parties for children.

Two biggest issues: Education: A high quality education system provides the foundation for individual and economic growth. Being at the bottom of the nation in per-pupil funding is simply unacceptable for Arizona. We must enable our citizens to meet the needs of a modern and continually evolving job environment. Jobs: We have to establish an economic environment conducive to diversified job creation and sustainable job growth. When Arizonans work, Arizona works.

Budget priorities: My priority is to restore K-12 education funding to a level that enables us to have optimal class sizes and to recruit the best teachers. Universities must be funded so college is as close to free as possible (as required by the Arizona Constitution). We can immediately cut wasteful spending by reducing the amount we expend on more than 200 tax credits enacted in the last 20 years; particularly credits that benefit narrow interest groups. We must modernize our tax laws to increase equity and ensure a stable revenue stream.

Fiscal philosophy: Balance. Our recent (and upcoming) budget crises are largely a result of an imbalance in our state tax revenue sources. For political gain, Arizona’s tax base has been shifted to an over-reliance on sales taxes, resulting in over-sensitivity to economic cycles and resulting in regressive tax rates. This forces average citizens to pay the price at the store, while the wealthiest in Arizona enjoy lower overall tax rates. Taxes cannot be burdensome, but they must be equitable. Our expenditures must be necessary and efficient.

Common Core: These are the current standards and our public schools should be allowed to continue using them until we can objectively evaluate whether or not they are effective in raising student performance. As a scientist, I strongly support making the development of critical thinking skills the main goal of our public schools, rather than encouraging rote learning to pass a test. As someone who understands statistical analysis, I want to ensure that any evaluations take into account all of the important variables that effect student outcomes.

Gifts to elected officials: There is always room for improvement of laws designed to keep potential corruption or favoritism out of our public policy decisions; particularly as people find new ways around the old limits. The key is to simultaneously minimize the dollar amount for any one gift, increase the transparency by requiring reporting within a short time frame, and maximize the enforcement of all such laws.

Transparency in government: Enabling the public to know what all levels of government are doing in their name is a fundamental aspect of democracy. Public notices should continue to be available to our citizens in the most accessible form possible. When new laws require the establishment of a new system to enhance transparency of governmental entities, however, they cannot be unfunded mandates. The expense and work involved in the creation and quality maintenance of new online interfaces to extensive databases cannot be underestimated.

Pro-life / pro-choice: All reproductive health care decisions should be private between a woman, her doctor, her family, and her faith. Our policies should be geared to help reduce unplanned pregnancies, which is the best way to lower the need for abortion. No woman should ever have to explain her reproductive health care choices to her employer.

Public policy advice: There is no single person I turn to for advice. I have learned that everyone I meet teaches me more about the problems facing our state, and how I can help solve those problems. As a researcher, I know that the best methodology is to seek out unbiased information, and keep researching until you have sufficient data to reach a conclusion based on reproducible facts.

Republican – Legislative District 30 Senate

Phone: (623) 696-8854

Email: [email protected]

Website: garycoxforsenate.com

Facebook: Gary Cox

Address: 5365 W Frier Dr , Glendale, AZ 85301

Age: 68. (04/30/46, McLeansboro, IL).

Arizona since: 1962

Occupation: Partner/owner & CEO, PMDRX (a health care technology company), since 2010; former president & CEO, All-Med Health Care, Inc.

Marital: Married

Children: 2

Education: Respiratory therapy, Maricopa Community College, 1971; ASU executive management course; attended Eastern Arizona College and Phoenix College.

Political experience: Candidate, Arizona House, LD12, 2002.

Interests: Business development, health care technology, golf, travel.

Two biggest issues: Jobs and business development: Job growth can only be sustained when there is a business culture and environment that promotes business. Excessive regulatory burdening of a business kills job creation. Many business owners are spending huge percentages of their operating budgets simply to comply with federal and state regulations. We need to assure that our state can continue to attract new businesses and encourage business development by existing corporations thereby insuring maximum job opportunities for Arizona’s citizens desiring gainful employment. Child protection: We’ve seen many failures of CPS over the past several years that have ended in tragic results. I completely support Gov. Brewer’s abolishment of CPS and the creation of a cabinet-level agency to manage child welfare. However, the new agency cannot simply be an ‘old book with a new cover’. There must be significant infrastructural agency changes that stop the failures of the past.

Budget priorities: First and foremost, the budget must be balanced without shortfalls. I’m a firm believer that it makes infinitely more sense to increase revenues through an expanded tax base rather than to continue to overburden existing tax payers with new taxes. The tax base will expand and new business attracted through the elimination of excessive and duplicative regulatory compliance requirements that do nothing more than kill job creation.

Fiscal philosophy: I am absolutely fiscally conservative. I will always ask the following questions relative to spending taxpayer money: 1. Is it necessary? 2. Is it wasteful? 3. How will it be paid for? 4. Does it add tax burden to our citizens?

Common Core: While on the surface, College and Career Ready Standards (aka, Common Core) may appear to set a standard for higher and equal quality education for everyone, it is in reality further federal government intrusion into and control of our educational system. I have done considerable research into ACCRS and believe it is a bad idea that effectively socializes our educational system while diminishing parental authority.

Gifts to elected officials: I believe there were reforms made in the most recent legislative session, but I would further evaluate those reforms in order to assure there is absolute integrity and full disclosure for any and all acceptable gifts.

Transparency in government: I believe in full transparency and public notice. I am all about integrity in government, which I believe we have had far too little of.

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

Public policy advice: A variety of sources including business leaders and citizens. I think business leaders and citizens are the best resource for gathering information and advice about how public policy affects them.