Age: 37
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Officer Arizona National Guard / IT Project Manager US Airways
Why are you running for office/re-election?
As a soldier, I have fought for my country many times. During the last deployment to Iraq, I vowed to come home and fight just as hard for my country here in Arizona. I want to bring back a common sense approach to the legislature, where the content of an idea, is more important then party affiliation.
What experience qualifies you for the position?
Master’s in Technology Management and am finishing my second Master’s in Homeland Security. I have owned two small businesses: SmartHome Automations and A+ Home Services.
What do you think is the most important issue of the election?
The most important thing facing Arizona is our economy. Over the next two years I am going to focus on investing in Arizona’s economy in the hopes of diversifying the types of businesses that call Arizona their home. Instead of focusing just on construction and tourism, we need to be looking at harnessing the power of solar research, development and installation. Instead of building strip malls, we need to be outfitting schools and Arizona homes with wind and solar.
If elected, what would you want your relationship with ASU to be?
I would look into out-of-the-box solutions for lowering the in-state tuition rate, in order to make college much more affordable for our kids. I want to combine ASU’s ability to conduct research with the power of business to develop new alternative energy technologies, in order to both create a new revenue source for ASU and to attract high-tech, high-paying jobs to Arizona.
Why should ASU students want to elect you?
Because as a soldier, I am 100 percent focused on mission completion. I will focus on solutions to problems and not on partisan politics. I possess the courage to stand up for what my constituents believe in, regardless of its effects on my political career. We need to get back to be elected representatives, not lifetime politicians.
What is the No. 1 change you want to see in your district?
Move from a retail-based, bedroom community, to one that utilizes smart growth and the tech industry to create a place where people can live, work and play. We need to get out of the mindset of centrally locating business here in the Valley and start building technology/business parks near the areas where people live. Less commute, less energy use, less pollution, more time!
What would your contributions to the community be?
My goal is to become the type of representative that people know and respect. I want to rebuild the trust that has been broken between us and our government, by ensuring I represent them and not the special interests that have driven our state into the ground. Focusing on the economy, public education and public safety, I will seek to improve District 22’s overall quality of life, by giving people back some of what many of us are losing: hope.
