Opportunity and Prosperity - Founded on Quality Education

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Education is the foundation of opportunity and prosperity for both K-12 students and for unemployed or under-employed adults. My professional work experience, and my leadership role on the governing board of one of the state's largest school districts, lead me to support:

• A back-to-basics approach to Reading, Math, Science and American History.
• Expanded vocational career and technical education opportunities for students and adults.
• Reducing the expensive regulatory costs on schools before raising school taxes.
• Parental rights and school choice.
• Safeguarding student privacy.

Our over-regulated public education system already receives the largest share of the state budget and our first response to fixing it should not be our current tax and spend approach. 

When it comes to the all important task of preparing our students for the future, we should have confidence in our methods and fund them appropriately.  I do not advocate spending cuts in education, but we simply do not have the money to waste on programs and policies that do not effectively contribute to our children's education.   

Historically, our country's public education system produced students who landed Americans on the Moon. Today, too many students across the nation cannot read at grade-level proficiency. By returning to a back-to-basics approach, we can reverse this trend and make Arizona a national leader in education.

The highest priority of state government is to bring prosperity to its citizens by promoting opportunity, safety and security.

To promote Opportunity, I support state policies and programs that:

• Reform Arizona's tax policy and regulations to reduce adverse economic impact and better promote individual opportunity.
• Expand adult education and training programs for work-displaced Arizonans so that they too can both benefit from, and contribute to, a growing Arizona economy.
• More wisely foster the development of new technologies and the infrastructure required for continued economic growth and the opportunities that growth can bring.

Prosperity also requires a Safe and Secure environment.  As such, I also support policies and programs that:

• Improve border security to protect all of us from drug trafficking and the risk of infectious diseases.
• Oppose sanctuary cities and sanctuary policies that shield criminals from appropriate law enforcement efforts.
• Support law enforcement efforts and build community trust.
• Address addiction and other public health concerns. This includes making sure first responders and Arizona health service providers have the resources they need to keep us safe.
• Responsibly protect and preserve wild spaces and water reserves as our metropolitan areas grow--for our own well-being as well as for future generations.