Bridwell: Elect new representation for Legislative Dist. 23

Dear Editor,

When was the last time you can remember that any of our current legislators have called a town hall meeting in Casa Grande or Apache Junction, the district’s largest population centers, or in Maricopa or Johnson Ranch, the districts fastest growing population centers, to ask the citizens about what their needs are at the State Capital?

The reason you can’t remember is not just because there hasn’t been many, but most of us don’t even know who these people are. For the State House, Pete Rios has moved on in search of a higher paying, longer duration job in Pinal Supervisor District One. However, he might be surprised by an upset from newcomer conservative Hispanic Republican Scott Venegas from Arizona City.

To take Pete’s place they have recycled Ernie Bustamante from San Manuel who has already been turned out of the legislative seat he once held by his own pol itical party. Running with Ernie is the Hayden/Superior-area incumbent Barbara McGuire. Two years into her representation can you name me anything she’s done to make our lives better here in Western Pinal County? Or do you remember anything Ernie Bustamente ever did as our legislator? No? Well, neither can I.

Bustamante and McGuire are nice enough people but they both come from fringe parts of the County and both have long histories of union representation and social service agency involvement. Those segments of our society play important roles, but they routinely demand a larger role by government in our lives that results in higher taxes and only represents a narrow special interest.

Frank Pratt and John Fillmore hail from Casa Grande and Apache Junction, the largest population centers in the district, and both are experienced private sector businessmen with expertise in entrepreneurial decision-making, managing budgets and finance, meeting payrolls, and making the tough decisions that have made their businesses successful. They also offer balanced long-term involvement in the volunteer side of civic, social, and non-profit agency endeavors. They truly will represent all of our concerns as involved citizens and when they run for re-election next time you’ll actually be able to cite specific ways they have made your lives better. They will take the time to ask you what it is you expect from government and what it is that you need them to do for you.

McGuire and Bustamante are yesterday’s news and it was page nine at best anyway. It’s time for new vibrant representation from the heartlands of the district. It’s time to elect seasoned professionals who can put Arizona back on the track to financial prosperity and make meeting the needs of Pinal County their top priority.It’s time to elect Fra n k Pratt and John Fillmore as our new State Representatives.

On the Senate side, the incumbent Rebecca Rios has more name recognition than the others from her political party, but not for the reasons that should count. Her father and her involvement in the government hierarchy at the State Senate are why you remember her. Or her photogenic campaign signs. But I ask again what can you name that she has done after eight years of representing our district in both the House and the Senate that you can remember as noteworthy. You can’t because there hasn’t been anything.

You may recall, however, that she conspired with David Snider to defeat the legislation that would have required Pinal County to elect five Supervisors in this year’s elections and when they couldn’t defeat it they implored Napolitano to veto it. Rebecca claimed to be in support but for purely political expediency She ultimately voted yes but only after enough votes h a d been cast to assure it’s passage in the Senate anyway.

Earlier in the session Rebecca had an opportunity to cast the deciding vote that would have brought us a five-supervisor election but she chose to walk off the floor rather than vote. Had she cast the vote that her constituents expected of her that day, the bill would have gone to the Governor at at time in the session when there would have not been a veto. She didn’t represent us then and she doesn’t represent us now. Rebecca’s only interest today is in advancing her career on the state level. That does nothing for us in LD23 except raise our taxes and bust our budgets.

Andre Campos of Arizona City is another veteran businessman from the heart of the district. He will ask us what we need from him and fight for us at the State Senate. He is a staunch conservative that believes in less government interference in our lives, lowering our tax burdens and balancing our State budget. Andre is the breath of fresh air we need in Pinal County and his efforts will help bring us new economic prosperity. When he’s re-elected there won’t be any question about what he’s done for the citizens of his district, you will already know.

Pinal Counties Legislative District 23 deserves Andre Campos as our State Senator and Frank Pratt and John Fillmore as our State Representatives. Please join me in casting our votes for them.

Bill Bridwell

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