About Steve
I was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1954 and grew up with a strong supportive Christian mother and 12 sets of aunts and uncles as role models. I started working early, with jobs like newspaper delivery and working at a grocery store, which allowed me to support myself while still in high school. After graduating in 1972, I pursued a career in the building trades industry, later becoming an Executive Board Member of a labor union. I also managed construction projects in Seattle. In 2016, I was introduced to Arizona and moved there upon retirement in 2019. In Arizona, I met my wife and became involved in volunteer work and politics as a conservative Constitutionalist.
On the Issues
Closed Borders
Legal Immigration enriches our state & nation. Illegal immigration does the opposite. I support every effort to stop illegal entry along all of our 262 miles of southern border. This will alleviate, to a great extent, many growing problems in Arizona:
- Drugs
- Crime/Cartels/Gangs
- Human Trafficking
- Humanitarian Crises/Homelessness in our cities
- Strain on hospitals, schools/tax paying families
Free Speech and the Right to Bear Arms
Every person may speak freely, write, comment & publish on all subjects; being responsible for the abuse of that right.
Arizona Constitution
Right to bear arms – shall NOT be infringed.
US Constitution
Election Integrity and Transparency
Shouldn’t ALL parties/citizens stand for election integrity and complete, absolute transparency? For making it easy to vote but impossible to cheat? Complete transparency will eliminate any doubt or perception of foul play. Transparency from both parties is the complete solution. Election transparency is democracy.
Pro-Life
Life is hard and sacred. Therefore, I stand for the life of the unborn with reasonable exceptions in the 1st trimester (rape and incest). The life of the mother at any stage. Tax incentives for adoptive parents. Funding and establishment of Crisis Pregnancy Centers NOT Planned Parenthood.
Local Ranchers and Farmers
LD 25 encompasses half of Yuma – known as the winter vegetable capital of the WORLD! This area keeps 90% of the US & Canada in vegetables in the cold seasons. I recognize this industry is a vital economic driver for our state & will always work to insure their water rights to sustain their livelihoods.
Education NOT Indoctrination
Government schools are to teach skills necessary for the students to become productive citizens. Parents/guardians are to teach religious and cultural values. The government school system and its employees should not undermine the values taught at home. Citizenship and civics courses should be graduation requirements in all high schools.
- AZ’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA)
- I strongly support because choice and competition. It breeds excellence.
- Parents should determine educational direction based on what is best for their children.
- School Safety
- Strong proponent of protecting our most precious & vulnerable citizens with armed security officers (SRO’s) in every school.
- Also in investing in security systems & equipment to keep our kids safe.
Less Government / Less Taxes
I will always support the idea of less government, less regulations on businesses. The enabling of small businesses/start ups. Focus on jobs for Arizonans not out of state workers.
Energy
I am all for energy independence & dominance. No Green New Deal. We need to utilize all fossil fuels. It is clean and efficient. LD25 is the home of the largest nuclear power plant in the US. Safe, clean, efficient energy is something to be proud of. We need to continue utilizing fossil fuels and natural gas & possible expansion of our power plant.
Water
Water is undoubtedly one of our most basic of all needs for survival in our dry AZ desert lands. Therefore, management of this resource is extremely important. Every avenue of increasing our water supply must be explored and entertained.
This is where “progress” (a political buzzword for attracting more & more ppl & jobs to our region) conflicts with resource prudence. I am opposed to growth for growth’s sake. Too many of our current leaders seem to believe “bigger is better” at the expense of our communities, agricultural industries and beautiful desert landscapes.
Military and Veterans
This nation owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to our military members, our veterans and their families for their service & sacrifices. They are owed the respect of the best medical care & treatment both during & after their service. I will work to see this is accomplished & insure there is no such thing as a homeless veteran. No one should be left behind!
Law Enforcement / First Responders
A safe society requires law & order. LEO’s need the best training & resources plus the backing of their leaders in order to perform their duties. Local prosecutors must be willing to prosecute those who do not follow the law so that our officer’s efforts are not in vain. I believe Adam Smith was correct in his book Wealth of Nations (1776) – Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent. I will always support our police officers as they protect our citizens & preserve our communities.