Rebecca Rios

Who are you? Rebecca Rios, 4th generation Arizona native; I am married, 2 children, 6 and 14. I have a bachelor and a masters degree from ASU, and I am Senate Assistant Minority Leader. I am also director of community relations, Empowerment Systems, Inc., and a volunteer serving on: Central Arizona College Alumni Advisory Board, Pinal Gila Community Child Services (Headstart) Board, Community Alliance Against Abuse Board, Arizona Rural Health Board.

What is one thing people don’t know about you? I have chosen a life of public service to my community, devoting 22 years to non-profit work aimed at improving the lives of the children and families in Arizona. Through my professional career, my volunteer service and my service in the Legislature, I am driven by a commitment to give back to my community and to keep Arizona a wonderful place for my children to grow up in.

Why are you the best candidate for the position? I know how to put politics aside and work across the aisle to pass legislation that is good for our district. I have experienced legislative leadership and the backing of supporters ranging from Law enforcement to Firefighters, Teachers, the NRA, Realtors, Nurses, and many others.  The issues affecting Arizona are varied and  complex.  A working knowledge and history of collaborating with local governments and stakeholders to come to working solutions is crucial. My opponent’s overly simplistic solutions and seemingly single issue campaign, lack the depth and breadth of knowledge and vision that is required of the position. That approach fails to get the job done.

Who is the 1st person you would call if victorious? I would start by thanking God, hugging my husband and children and then calling all my family, friends and supporters to thank them for their hard work and commitment. Races are never won by the Candidate alone.
 

What have you learned on the campaign trail? I have spoken to thousands of constituents. People want solutions to the serious issues affecting our families. Families throughout our district are struggling with a depressed economy, fear of losing their homes, fear of losing their jobs, concern about illegal immigration and violent drug and human smuggling cartels and a concern that our education system will continue to be decimated with more budget cuts.

People want real solutions to problems. The issues that everyday families struggle with are not Democrat or Republican issues.  They are economic and social problems that need to be addressed with a bipartisan approach.

What are the 3 most pressing issues your constituents face and how will you deal with them? Jobs/economy – The legislature needs to provide targeted tax incentives for businesses to expand and/or relocate to Arizona.  Similar to the Solar Tax Credit that I supported and was signed into law, this type of incentive needs to be expanded to include other high tech, high wage jobs. 

Illegal immigration – SB1070  did not go far enough.  It was a flawed solution to a very serious problem. It did not provide for protecting our border or fighting the drug and human smuggling cartels. I believe we must provide law enforcement with the resources they need to secure our border and to protect our communities against violent drug and human smuggling cartels.  We must enforce employer sanctions and punish employers who knowingly hire illegal workers and deny those jobs to Americans.  We must demand that the Federal Government get off the fence and act now on illegal immigration.

Education – Arizona is ranked 50th in education funding. 1.6 billion dollars was cut from the K – University system last year.  We cannot continue to decimate our public education system. It is bad for businesses that require an educated workforce, and it is bad for our children who need to be prepared to compete in a global economy.
 

How did you get involved in politics? I committed at a young age to serving my community and have fulfilled that commitment through my non-profit work in children’s behavioral health, in my countless volunteer board memberships and through my service in public office. A desire to promote the health and education of children in Arizona led me to first run for the legislature. I am proud to have a 100% rating by Children’s Action Alliance. I believe there is no greater good that we can do than protecting Arizona’s future, our children.

What separates you from your opponent? I have an in-depth understanding and working knowledge of the complex issues Arizona and our district face. I have proven bipartisan legislative experience and a successful history of working with local schools, cities, businesses and individuals  to create solutions to problems. A breadth of knowledge regarding the budget, education, economic development, and public safety  is crucial in order to be an effective legislator. As the next Senate Minority Leader, I offer our district a seat at the table with Republican leadership and the Governor, vs. a rank and file legislator of 90 with no experience or seniority to deliver for our district.

Best advice ever received? Conduct yourself each day with integrity, take care of your family, do the right thing and you’ll always sleep well at night.