TDA: Tell us about your career/ background and how it relates to the position you’re seeking.

MR: Owning a business forced me to look at issues from an economic point of view rather than an emotional one. I learned there is a big difference between the people who sign fronts of checks and those who sign the backs of them. In the legislature we write bills all the time that fix problems for 10 people and create problems for 100 people. The economy in Arizona is growing because of employers, yet we keep throwing them mandates, regulations and rules about how you can or can’t make a living in this state.

TDA: What are your political qualifications?

MR: My involvement started with the Young Republicans, where I worked on various campaigns. I also have served as District 28 Republican treasurer and Precinct Committeeman,

Arizona Republican Party Precinct Committeeman, Vice President of the Scottsdale Republican Forum, a board member of the Las Rancheras Republican Women, and a member‑at‑large of the Young Republican League.

TDA: What do you believe are the biggest issues among the constituents in your district and throughout the state, and how do you plan to address them?

MR: The biggest is illegal immigration. We did a number of bills this year to secure the border. For whatever reason, they were either vetoed or didn’t pass.

I think it’s an embarrassment that we went through the entire session without being able to get a comprehensive immigration reform bill signed.

Education is a huge issue. I’m proud of the budget we passed because it included money for all‑day kindergarten and increased teachers pay. If you want to attract the best and brightest teachers, we have to pay them what they’re worth. Next year and beyond we need to watch education funding, making sure the money we direct to go to teachers gets to them and not to bloated administrative costs.

One of the things I want to work on next year is identity‑theft legislation. I also would like to see us remove Social Security numbers and signatures from government documents.

One of the biggest issues is going to be economic development. Last year we passed a “sales factor” tax break that provides an incentive for businesses to expand.  A complimentary bill that didn’t pass was the R&D (Research and Development) bill that I authored. It provided an incentive or credit to companies that keep their R&D work here. We passed the bill in the House and Senate, but it didn’t make it into the budget because it had a cost attached to it. Next year I’m going to propose it again.

Water is another issue. We need to make certain that when we develop there is an assured water supply.

TDA: Tell us why you should be chosen to represent your party in the general election rather than the other candidates from your party.

MR: Consistency is important. It takes more than a year or two years to get legislation moving.

I believe I’ve represented the people in this district honestly, and I have a lot of unfinished work.

TDA: Are you a Clean Elections candidate?

MR: Absolutely not. There are too many misuses of the system. I would prefer to raise the money myself instead of taking it from the government. It perplexes me how any Republican can run on Clean Elections.

TDA: Tell us anything else voters should know about you or your views.           

MR: I like to stress that I give my district 150 percent. I love this job. The best you can hope for in an elected official is someone who loves serving the people and is honest.

TDA: Tell us about your career/ background and how it relates to the position you’re seeking.

JK: I am a professor of criminal justice at Scottsdale Community College and Director of the college’s Administration of Justice Studies and Forensic Science Program. Prior to teaching at Scottsdale Community College, I taught at ASU and before that served 20 years as a police officer with the Port Authority of New York and the New Jersey Police Dept., retiring as a detective sergeant.    

I earned a BA in liberal arts from New York University, a master’s degree in government from St. John’s University and a Ph.D. in criminal justice from Rutgers.

I am also a military veteran. 

I believe that I possess a unique combination of book knowledge and real world experience that will help me at the legislature.

TDA: What are your political qualifications?

JK: I served six years as a town councilman in Fountain Hills and also served three years on a town council back East. I am also a local Republican State Committeeman, precinct captain and member  of the local Republican Club.

I also serve on or belonged to many other government boards and community service organizations, including a parks and recreation commission, board of health, school district advisory panel, planning advisory group, historical society, American Legion, community center volunteers and senior services board. This wide array of experiences gives me better insight into the community’s wants and needs.

TDA: What do you believe are the biggest concerns of the constituents in your district and throughout the state, and how do you plan to address them, being as specific as possible?

JK: Illegal immigration is one of the most serious problems facing our state and nation. I believe that Arizona must do its fair share to combat this threat to our safety and economy. In addition, we must help secure the border now and crack down on businesses that knowingly hire illegals.

Controlling government spending and keeping taxes low is another of my priorities. I supported the tax cuts passed by the legislature. If elected, I will continue to control government waste and unnecessary spending. I also believe that we must improve the quality of K‑12 education in Arizona by investing in schools, but with accountability. We must continue to test students, get back to traditional proven programs, and reward good teachers and get rid of bad ones.

I also believe that uncontrolled development in rural areas of our state that lack adequate water supplies is a threat to our own water supply and is unfair to unwary buyers. I support legislation to only permit development in areas with assured water supplies.

TDA: Tell us why you should be chosen to represent your party in the general election rather than the other candidates from your party.

JK: I believe that my extensive education, career and political experiences combined with my long history of community service make me a good choice to represent the people. I am a longtime resident, (and) I have extensive knowledge of the issues and considerable experience in government.

TDA: Tell us anything else voters should know about you or your views.

JK: I have devoted my entire working career to public service. I have nearly a decade of sitting town council experience and even more time serving on other government boards and community groups. I have been endorsed by Sheriff Joe Arpaio, County Attorney Andrew Thomas, House Speaker James Weiers, Representative Russell Pearce and Scottsdale Councilman Jim Lane.