Since 1994, John Shadegg, Arizona’s 3rd Congressional incumbent, has played a pivotal role in Washington fighting for local issues. Now after 16 years in office, Congressman Shadegg has decided to not run for re-election; instead, he has chosen to retire. With the announcement of his retirement, seven congressional hopefuls entered the campaigning arena in search of our support and our vote. To help better acquaint our readers with those candidates in the running, Arizona Foothills Magazine has contacted the Congressional candidates with what are sure to be frequently asked questions. Here’s what the candidates had to say.
Sam Crump
AFM: Where do you currently live within your district?
SC: I live in Anthem.
AFM: Why are you running for Congress?
SC: I am running for Congress to continue the conservative leadership the John Shadegg has provided. I will fight to reduce federal spending and lower taxes on families and businesses. I will work to ensure our national security, including securing the border and opposing efforts to provide amnesty to illegal immigrants. I also want to restore the rights of the states and the people under the 10th Amendment by getting the federal government off their backs.
AFM: To win, what will be your biggest challenge?
SC: Getting my message out to the voters in this crowded field of primary candidates. I need financial support from the grassroots conservatives because I am not a millionaire and do not have millionaire friends like some of the candidates in this race.
AFM: What is the first issue you will address if you are in Congress in 2011?
SC: Defunding Obamacare.
AFM: How much money have you currently raised?
SC: Approximately $80,000
AFM: Who is your mentor and why?
SC: I have tremendous respect for Congressman Trent Franks and would seek to emulate his strength of character and conservative values in Congress.
For more information on Sam Crump visit, www.samcrump.com.
Steve Moak
Steve and Debbie Moak
AFM: Where do you currently live within the district?
SM: Paradise Valley
AFM: Why are you running for Congress?
SM: Running for Congress is the most important decision I’ve ever made. I want to represent the people of Arizona. I believe my experience as a businessman creating jobs, balancing budgets and making tough decisions has prepared me well to deal with the challenges facing our country, the state and Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District.
AFM: To win, what will be your biggest challenge?
SM: I’m not a career politician and I don’t have a famous last name.
AFM: What is the first issue you will address if you are in Congress in 2011?
SM: The first issue I will address as a Congressman is our faltering economy. I believe the American people will elect many fresh faces with real-world private enterprise experience to help solve our growing economic concerns. I look forward to working with my fellow Congressmen to reduce federal spending, free up bank-lending to small businesses, and create an environment that fosters entrepreneurship and job creation.
AFM: How much money have you currently raised?
SM: Arizona citizens have stepped up to invest close to half-million dollars to elect me as their Congressional representative.
AFM: Who is your mentor and why?
SM: Senator Jon Kyl is my mentor. He is a true public servant who is in Washington for the right reasons. He is thoughtful, effective, knows how to build consensus, and is a good listener. I believe I will bring these same skills to D.C.
For more information on Steve Moak visit, www.moakforcongress.com.
Vernon Parker
AFM: Where do you currently live within your district?
VP: Paradise Valley with my wife, Lisa, and son, Ian.
AFM: Why are you running for Congress?
VP: To restore faith in America. Americans have lost faith in their elected leaders. Life has not always been paradise. I have lived the American Dream, rising from a difficult upbringing to serving as mayor of Paradise Valley. I have been incredibly blessed. What I have accomplished in life can only happen in America...and only with hard work. I want to leave this country better off than I found it. We must preserve our great nation for future generations.
AFM: To win, what will be your biggest challenge?
VP: Communicating my message with voters in a crowded primary field, and yes, I have a plan to overcome that challenge. We have a unique message of restoring our country to its greatness. I believe our best days are in front of us.
AFM: What is the first issue you will address if you are in Congress in 2011?
VP: If the president doesn't act before I get there, then we must secure the border. Reforming healthcare, cutting spending and reducing the tax burden are equally as important. We must insure that future generations are not stuck holding the bill for our generation.
AFM: How much money have you currently raised?
VP: $230,000 in the first quarter, and we are making calls daily.
AFM: Who is your mentor and why?
VP: Senator Kyl is the delegation's workhorse. He's not flashy, but he's substantive. He's always been a good sounding board for me throughout my career, and he was very helpful in walking me through the Senate confirmation process. When elected, I want to emulate his hard work and dedication to getting real results for the people of Arizona.
For more information of Vernon Parker visit, www.parker2010.com.
Jim Waring
AFM: Where do you currently live within the district?
JW: I live just north of Bell Road at 44th Street.
AFM: Why are you running for Congress?
JW: I’m running because we need a Republican Congress that understands only a pro-growth economy can provide jobs for Arizona. We need a Congress that can lift us out of this crisis, not introduce more spending bills with large tax increases. Lastly, we need a Congress that will make national security their top priority. My concerns now are, and have always been, cutting spending and working to improve national security. I am ready to address these issues from my first day in office.
AFM: To win, what will be your biggest challenge?
JW: My challenge is to out-work my opponents. I've always run grassroots campaigns, so I will continue to go door-to-door, meet the people, and earn their trust just as I’ve done for years. I will be out-spent in this race, but I won’t be out-worked.
AFM: What is the first issue you will address if you are in Congress in 2011?
JW: The first issue that I will tackle is cutting back the over spending and tax increases from the current Congress.
AFM: How much money have you currently raised?
JW: Approximately $200,000
AFM: Who is your mentor and why?
JW: My dad is my mentor. My parents were public-school teachers and my grandparents were farmers. Through them, I was taught the value of the dollar and the importance of education and hard work. It was my father's influence that led me to earn a Ph.D at ASU with a focus on budgeting. I was taught to be prudent, and you can count on me to carefully consider how your money is spent because that is my upbringing. The things my dad taught me have served me well and will be carried on to the United States Congress.
For more information on Jim Waring visit, www.jimwaring.com.
Paulina Morris
AFM: Where do you currently live in your district?
PM: I live in the southern part of the district in the Lincoln Rd. and 24th Street area.
AFM: Why are you running for Congress?
PM: I’m running for Congress because I care about the same things we all care about: my family, my faith, my community, and my country. I’ve worked in both the public and private sector, community involvement and public service has always been extremely important to me.
So, in 2004, when the voters of Maricopa County decided to save their county’s health care system, I ran and was elected by over 62,000 voters (the majority of whom live in CD 3) to the Maricopa County Special Healthcare District board. Elected as chairman by my fellow board members 2 of my 4 years on the board, I helped the district go from $12 million in debt to $97 million in the bank, making me the only candidate in this race with experience in cutting budgets and fixing broken government.
It’s no secret constituents believe Washington is broken. So when Congressman Shadegg decided to retire, I knew it was time for someone to step up who had the experience and thoughtful leadership we need in Washington right now.
AFM: What will be your biggest challenge winning?
PM: My biggest challenge in winning this race is three-fold. First, I must overcome efforts by those who seek to use their personal fortune to buy the election and a seat in Congress. Next, it is necessary to highlight those in the race who are attempting to use their family name in place of experience and hard work. Finally, I will remind the voters of this district why they elected me with over 62,000 votes just 6 years ago, and the achievemenAFM: ts I accomplished on their behalf.
AFM: What is the first issue you will address if you are in Congress in 2011?
PM: I have a passion for healthcare and I am experienced in that field. My years chairing the Maricopa Integrated Healthcare System taught me that today more than ever, we must tackle this critical, multi-faceted issue and ensure the radical plans put forth recently are corrected. I look forward to using my education and experience in this area to good use for the citizens of District 3.
AFM: How much money have you currently raised?
PM: As I noted earlier, we are in a race with those who are attempting to buy the election with personal wealth or substitute a famous family name for real knowledge of the job. I am not a bored millionaire or a member of a political dynasty. We have a budget for our race which allows us to communicate with the voters and are fortunate to enjoy the support of community leaders, the business community and individuals seeking a common sense approach to the issues facing our country.
AFM: Who is your mentor and why?
PM: My mother escaped Cuba and the dictatorship ruling that country in 1960 because she knew she could never live in a communist country. After the death of her husband, she raised her four girls by herself. She taught me to work hard and make a difference in your community. She never took a hand-out or relied on the government to make ends meet. Her proudest moment was becoming a citizen of this country. I could not ask for a better mentor and role model.
For more information on Paulina Morris, visits www.paulinaforcongress.com.
Michael Shoen
AFM: Where do you currently live in your district?
MK: Paradise Valley, near PV City Hall.
AFM: Why are you running for Congress?
MS: To raise awareness about and to oppose: 1) the ascendency of the warfare state; 2) the atrophy of the entrepreneurial (manufacturing) state; and 3) the endless growth of the federal government (both Democrats and Republicans) at the expense of the individual.
AFM: What will be your biggest challenge winning?
MS: Democratic and Republican opponents who will each have over $2.5 million.
AFM: What is the first issue you will address if you are in Congress in 2011?
MS: The fraud of 9/11 and the bogus and wasteful militarization and wars stemming there from.
AFM: How much money have you currently raised?
MS: Self-financed, limit at $5,500
AFM: Who is your mentor and why?
MS: Ernest Hancock comes closest to a mentor, because he has experience in the political process and because he believes in fundamentally the same values as I.
For more information on Michael Shoen please visit, www.shoenforcongress.com.
Ed Winkler
AFM: Where do you currently live within your district?
EW: My wife, Karen and I have resided in the Town of Paradise Valley since 1982.
AFM: Why are you running for Congress?
EW: I’m running for Congress to “Defend America’s Values”. Congress and the President are not responsive to the needs of the people. Our government is being run by an elite group of academics, activists, bureaucrats and political strategists whose ideology reflects the detached leftist philosophy of our president. I want to stimulate our economy through the free market, return to a strong foreign policy, end illegal immigration, secure our borders and make our government more efficient and responsive to the people. My success in corporate America for 30 years with IBM, my small business ownership and ten years on the Paradise Valley Town Council, retiring as mayor has prepared me well to use my private and public sector leadership skills to represent you in Congressional District 3.
AFM: To win, what will be your biggest challenge?
EW: My biggest challenges are financial. I’m not a country club Republican. My peer group represents average middle class Americans who cannot afford to contribute thousands of dollars to my campaign. I cherish every contribution and make every dollar work hard; the same way I will make your dollar work hard if you give me the opportunity to represent you as your Congressman in Washington.
AFM: What is the first issue you will address if you are in Congress in 2011?
EW: The first issue I will address is the economy. We must freeze government spending and Federal employment, stabilize the entitlement programs of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, stimulate the free market not the public sector to create jobs, end the practice of bailouts for companies and countries who are deemed too big to fail and insure that the planned tax increases in January are defeated. These steps will begin to reduce the size and burden of government.
AFM: How much money have you currently raised?
EW: To date, I have raised under $100,000. I will need considerably more investment in my campaign in order to communicate my conservative message to the public. Unfortunately money buys name recognition therefore, I need to utilize creative low cost methods to reach the voting public. The proliferation of campaign signage is ugly, expensive, wasteful and environmentally unfriendly; therefore I will invest little resources in this media.
AFM: Who is your mentor and why?
EW: My mentor is not a politician; he is an author, columnist and talk show host, Dennis Prager. Dennis always looks beyond the noise and emotions to not only define the problems of the day but to understand their causes. With this approach he brings clarity to confusing issues. This methodology allows me to evaluate situations from all angles and perspectives so that I can develop a common sense, understandable and defensible solution.
For more information on Ed Winkler, visit www.WinklerForCongress.com.
LeAnn Hull
AFM: Where do you currently live in your district?
LH: I was born and raised in this district, raised my four children in this district, operated my construction company of 26 years in this district, and currently live at Carefree Highway and 16th St.
AFM: Why are you running for Congress?
LH: I chose to run for office after flying to Washington, D.C. last March 2009 to voice my concerns for the survival of my business. My voice was not heard there or here, so I decided that small business [and] middle class America needed to have real representation. Nobody better than me! My leadership in life, marriage and business make me the perfect candidate.
AFM: What will be your biggest challenge winning?
LH: My biggest challenge in this race is to get the attention necessary to promote my message. I have discovered that the media predetermines who is worthy and viable based on the money that they have raised. Candidates are not given a fair shot to be heard based on their qualifications only. Therefore, the same ole’ same ole’ continues to occur. Thus change is highly unlikely unless we change this process.
AFM: What is the first issue you will address if you are in Congress in 2011?
LH: My campaign approach is very different because my desire for a different result is at the forefront of my thought process. I am not fundraising like all the other candidates, which allows me to not be beholden to anyone or any group. Also it sends a loud and clear message that I am in touch with the need for a reduction in wasteful spending and fiscal responsibility. I am also connected to the real struggle of most Americans, as I am a contractor who is looking to move us to a better economy.
AFM: How much money have you currently raised?
LH: I have had a few people contribute approximately $7,000. Just enough to get a Web site and some cards and signs. My "staff" is volunteer and small, but passionate and powerful.
AFM: Who is your mentor and why?
LH: My mentors have been my family and fellow business associates. These are the most important people in my life and my reason for running for office.
For more information on LeAnn Hull, visit www.leannhullforcongress.com.
**Arizona Foothills Magazine reached out to all Congressional candidates in the running for Arizona’s 3rd district. The responses above are supplied by those candidates who responded via e-mail.
