I have grown up in a political family, a family rich in the tradition of Arizona Republican politics, so I have an appreciation for the Republican philosophy: a government closer to the people with less bureaucracy and less government involvement in our lives. And where we do have government, let us do it with balance, with respect for the taxpayer and respect for those citizens we serve. Government should be efficient, effective and when we do assist our citizens, we should do it with a goal of helping them become self-sufficient. I believe the legislature and its legislators are not the answer to all our problems. Yet, as legislators we do have a responsibility to use our common sense, listen to the citizens and provide leadership in meeting the challenges of today and the future.

Quick Select Education Pima County’s Fair Share Economic Development Transportation Children’s Issues Second Amendment Immigration

Education

K-12

A quality public education system is the access to the American Dream. No matter what the financial status of your family, no matter what your ethnic background is, no matter what side of town you grew up on, access to a quality public education offers the equal opportunity that has made this country great. Once a student completes this public education they then have the foundation with which they can go forward to make of their lives what they will, depending on their own motivation, effort and drive. That is the American way.

The economic future of our state and our country in the global economy of today and tomorrow depends on a quality educated workforce. That workforce depends directly on a quality public education system. Our students must be prepared after their public education to pursue higher education, specific training or to enter the workforce with hope for advancement in the future.

The foundation of our future is a quality public education system. It is our responsibility as citizens of Arizona and as state legislators to make this public education system as good as it can be. This includes funding and accountability.

We have good public schools in District 26. As a legislator, I have supported, and will continue to support, our public education system. As I talk with the voters of this district, I hear that the citizens want small class sizes for their children and grandchildren. And they understand the correlation that a good public education system means in the future their 401K will continue to grow and with a poor public education system their 401K may do poorly as well.

Higher Education

There is a silent crisis in higher education in the United States today. China graduated 300,000 engineers last year. 60,000 graduated in the United States in the same year and half of those were foreign born. We have high tech companies in the United States today with no American born engineers. In a competitive global economy of today and tomorrow this presents a serious problem for the United States.

Are we as Americans willing to be second best? Third best? In the late 1950s the United States was shocked into the realization that it was no longer the world leader in technology when the Russians launched Sputnik and were the first into space. We responded with a nationwide effort in education. We have the same crisis situation today, but we have no Sputnik to jolt us into realization that we are no longer going to be the world leader.

We need action at a national and state level to support our colleges and universities. In conjunction with our K-12 system we need to realize that the economic vitality of our future depends on a stronger higher education system. This includes funding and accountability.

Our University of Arizona is many times more important to our economy in Southern Arizona than ASU is to Maricopa County. The U of A is a major economic generator in Southern Arizona, while the economy in Maricopa County is of such a critical mass that its economy is self generating independent of ASU. There have been bills proposed in the legislature, dominated by legislators from Maricopa County, to increase funding for ASU at the expense of the U of A and NAU! I have fought and will continue to fight these proposals with all of my energy and experience.

Pima County’s Fair Share

Much has been said about how Pima County and Southern Arizona don’t get their fair share from The “State of Maricopa”. Well, yes it’s true, we do get the short end of the stick repeatedly. And it’s only going to get worse. With the continuing population growth in Phoenix, Maricopa County continues to gain more representation in the legislature. That makes the representation we have in Southern Arizona all the more important. Issues important to Southern Arizona appear in different places and formats. It may come in committee or on the floor. It may be in a bill, an amendment or in the budget. Southern Arizona needs Senators with experience and courage. We need Senators who will stand up to strong Maricopa County pressure, who will work with both Republicans and Democrats in Southern Arizona in order to get our fair share. I have been one of the legislators who has had the fortitude and has shown the willingness to stand up to the Maricopa dominated leadership in the legislature.

My opponent has stated that he will follow the lead and directions of leadership. With the departure of Tim Bee as the President of the Senate from Southern Arizona the next Senate leadership will be from Maricopa County. We don’t need a Senator from Southern Arizona siding with Maricopa County against Southern Arizona.

Economic Development

Economic Development for Southern Arizona requires a comprehensive approach to the business, educational and quality of life issues in our communities. This approach is based on a principle that government does have a role, although limited, in promoting economic development and promoting a working partnership with business.

We live in a competitive environment. Our neighboring states spend tens of millions of dollars promoting their states' businesses. Other countries spend tens of millions of dollars on their economies. We must help promote our businesses as well. It doesn’t mean that government needlessly gives away taxpayer money to businesses. It means that we have a thoughtful, coordinated strategy. In Southern Arizona our state plan must compliment our local plan, our Pima County Workforce Development and Comprehensive plan for example. Our Department of Commerce and Office of Tourism are important to this plan. I have been fortunate to be at both Oro Valley and Marana Council meetings where the Department of Commerce presented job training grants to our local businesses. This is an example of the partnership efforts we need.

Our educational system, including both K-12 and higher education, are critical components of our economic development strategy (see Education section above). Our University of Arizona is many times more important to Southern Arizona than ASU is to the Phoenix area. Our next State Senator must be prepared to fight for state support for the U of A and not change the funding formula to benefit ASU at the expense of the U of A as many Maricopa County legislators have suggested. I have the experience and have shown the willingness to fight for the U of A. My opponent has indicated he will follow the lead of Maricopa leadership.

Our quality of life for Southern Arizona is a result of the combination of many things: our people, workforce, businesses, educational system and our land. State government impacts these in a number of ways, including our tax structure, education and training and our State Trust Lands and environmental policy. Legislators do not have answers to all the questions, but along with local governments and Arizona citizens we can craft deliberative policy to promote a good quality of life for all Arizonans.

Transportation

Northwest Tucson has been plagued with traffic problems for decades. With the explosive growth in this area and Southern Pinal County in recent years the problem is getting worse with no solutions in sight. Further growth, already on the drawing board, for Southern Pinal County as well as proposals in Northwest Pima County will make the north – south corridor of Oracle Road very difficult to travel.

We must call together regional stakeholders now with the state to seek practical solutions to the current and future transportation problems in this area. Despite this looming crisis we have seen progress in the District in Marana and Oro Valley and the Interstate expansion to three lanes will be finished in the foreseeable future.

Children’s Issues

In the eight years I have served in the legislature I have become the leader on Children’s issues. My experience of thirty years working with children and families helped prepare me for this role. My hard work and willingness to learn have solidified my position as the leader on children’s issues in the Arizona legislature. I have received numerous local, state and national awards and recognitions for my work on these issues, including the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement, Commissioner’s Legislator of the Year Award. 

My proudest accomplishment was the founding of the Arizona Children’s Caucus, a group of Representatives and Senators, Republicans and Democrats, working together to promote children’s issues in the Arizona legislature. The Children’s Caucus has been successful in children’s public policy and in protecting funding for children in tough budgeting times. The motto of the Children’s Caucus is that Arizona’s Children should be safe, healthy and have access to a quality education.

In terms of safety I have worked to strike a balance between safety of the child and parental rights. The Arizona legislature has shifted from one focus to the other over the last several decades. I believe we can find a balance that will protect children and respect parental rights. It is not easy; the issues are very emotionally charged and there is the political limelight that from time to time accompanies one side or the other and distracts from good public policy. I have worked to refine a child protection agency that is well staffed, well trained, has the resources to work effectively with children and their families and that is open and accountable.

I have supported children’s health through KidsCare, Arizona’s Medicaid health care coverage for children in low income families. I also supported lifting the ban on letting parents know about the program. Still Arizona is below the national average in the number of children receiving health care coverage.

In terms of education, I have been a strong supporter of our public education system in Arizona (see Education section above). It is the access to the American Dream for our children. After receiving a quality education, regardless of the economic status of one’s family or their ethnic background, our youth can make out of their lives what they choose depending on their own effort and drive.

See the "Bio" section of my website for more information about my commitment to Arizona's children.

Second Amendment Rights

There is nothing ambiguous about our rights under the U.S. Constitution to keep and bear arms. While government has an obligation to encourage the responsible exercise of this fundamental right, there is nothing in state or federal law that prohibits the ownership of guns.

My eight-year record, as recorded in Project Vote Smart , reflects my support for our Second Amendment Rights. In 2006 I supported SB1425 which prohibits the state from confiscating your weapons, even if an emergency is declared.

More importantly, in 2006 I backed one of the top issues for backers of Second Amendment rights, Arizona’s codification of the “Castle Doctrine,” which clearly states that your home is your castle. If an intruder enters your home or your vehicle, without your consent, you have the right to use deadly force to protect yourself and your family.  

Senate Bill 1145, which was approved and signed into law on April 24, 2006, makes sure that government respects this right. Previously, someone who shot an intruder would have to prove with a “preponderance of the evidence” that they were acting in self defense. SB1145 put the burden on proof on prosecutors.

The measure also clearly states that someone who is defending their home and family has no obligation to retreat from an intruder before using force. You are presumed to be justified in using force if you “reasonably believe” you or your family is in imminent peril, and an attacker has entered or is trying to enter your home or car. Furthermore, the law limits the damages that someone can obtain if they file suit over actions you took defending yourself from their invasion.

While we must recognize your right to self-defense, we citizens have an obligation to act responsibly when we possess a weapon. Further, common sense dictates that guns and alcohol are just deadly a mix as cars and alcohol. This is why we must take reasonable steps to protect our children and our families. I support background checks to prevent criminals and those who are mentally ill from purchasing weapons, and I support reasonable restrictions on carrying weapons in public places, especially in our schools.

The key is to promote the reasonable exercise of our Constitutional rights. I support our “Concealed Carry Laws,” which allow someone to undergo training and carry a concealed weapon, and I oppose any efforts to narrow or dismantle our CCW laws.

Weapons are tools. When they are used responsibly they promote safety. But like any tool, someone who doesn’t know how to use it safely poses a risk to themselves and to others, and those who seek to misuse a tool can pose a significant safety risk. The courts have upheld reasonable measures, such as background checks that keep weapons out of the hands of criminals and those with mental health problems.

We must keep our children safe in their schools. While some think that arming our teachers is a way to prevent tragedies, I ask you to put yourself in the place of a police officer who is called to respond reports of shots fired in a classroom. You enter the room and you see two people with weapons in their hands. Both turn toward you with their weapons.

How would that officer know who is the shooter, and who is the “good Samaritan?” There is no way. For this reason I believe that we should support our public safety officers by reducing the possibility of accidents, misunderstandings or unnecessary violence in public places.