RUMOR CONTROL

By voting for the 2009 Budget did you drain the Rainy Day fund?

No, there was approximately $20 Million left in the fund after we passed the 2009 State Budget. I believe using the Rainy Day fund to help manage the current economic downturn is fiscally prudent. The Rainy Day fund will be built up again as the economy improves.

By voting for the 2009 State Budget did you raise taxes?

No, we protected necessary education funding as well as critical safety net services for vulnerable citizens without raising taxes. 

Why did you vote against a Code of Conduct for Teachers?

I voted no because a code of conduct for teachers is already in statute. 

Did you vote to expand local law enforcements ability to enforce immigration laws?

Yes.

Is it a conflict of interest to be a Teacher and a State Representative?

Serving as a Teacher, and a State Representative, is provided for in the Arizona Constitution (Article 4, Part 2, Section 5), and in the Arizona Revised Statutes. Teachers are the only type of public employees that don’t have to quit their job in order to serve. See below 

Title 38 - Public Officers and Employees

38-201. General qualifications

A. Every officer shall be not less than eighteen years of age, a citizen of the United States and a resident of this state.

B. No person is eligible to any office, employment or service in any public institution in the state, or in any of the several counties thereof, of any kind or character, whether by election, appointment or contract, unless he is a citizen of the United States, but the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the employment of any teacher, instructor or professor authorized to teach in the United States under the teacher exchange program as provided by federal statutes or the employment of university or college faculty members.

Why did you have to pay a fine to the Clean Elections Commission?

During the Primary election cycle, the November General Election Date was mistakenly printed instead of the September Primary date on one mail piece, and my campaign signs.

Senator Linda Gray filed a complaint with the Clean Elections Commission and in my response to the Complaint I acknowledged a mistake had been made.

Following an investigation by the Clean Elections Commission into Senator Grays’ complaint, the Commission levied a fine as part of its decision, and I paid that fine.  There was no taxpayer money used to pay the fine.

Significantly, the Commission ruled there was no malfeasance on my part and I have moved on.