I’ve been representing the West Valley for the last 15 years – 11 on the Goodyear City Council and the last four years as the State Representative for LD13. After redistricting, LD29 became my home, which includes Goodyear, Surprise, Sun City, Litchfield Park, and many other parts of the West Valley.

Serving our community has been one of the highest honors of my life. I built my small business out here, raised my family, and have made lifelong friendships with people who passionately care about the success of our state.

Those of us who planted roots in the West Valley decades ago watch in amazement the tremendous growth in our region. We are home to some of the fastest growing cities in the country. We’ve created new employment centers, built new homes, invested in new police and fire stations, and even seen a new freeway connect us to the rest of the Valley.

Our economy was booming, families were moving in, and the cost of living was affordable. The West Valley was on the rise.

I still believe the West Valley’s best days lie ahead, but bad federal policies are hurting working-class families. Inflation remains historically high with Arizona seeing double digit increases, gas prices are up, stock market is down, and many economists are predicting a looming recession.

As a small business owner our livelihood is directly linked to the ebbs and flows of the Arizona economy. We aren’t a giant corporation that can simply “tighten our belt” to weather the storm. Like many of you, we need to make tough decisions in times of economic uncertainty.

Arizona can’t fix the fiscal and monetary recklessness of the federal government, but we can apply fiscally responsible decisions to mitigate the pain, which is exactly what we’ve been doing at the Arizona Legislature.

Over the last couple years, the Republican-led legislature has enacted policies that spurred economic growth and protected hard-working taxpayers. We accomplished this by focusing on creating a business-friendly environment, expanding educational opportunities, and making key investments to improve the quality of life for Arizonans.

• In 2021, we passed the largest tax cut in state history by enacting a 2.5% flat tax that saves every Arizonan money. We also created a new tax classification for small businesses to facilitate their success.
• We brought back manufacturing jobs and lured new industries to Arizona. This has been one of my top priorities. In 2020, I was named Legislator of the Year by the Arizona Manufacturers Council for organizing the first ever Made in Arizona Tour.
• In 2022, we paid off the state’s pension debt, saving taxpayers nearly $120 million in ongoing debt service. We built up the state’s rainy day fund to $1.5 billion, so Arizona would be in a better financial position if, not when, the next recession hits.
• We made educational freedom a reality by passing the largest ESA expansion in the country, while also investing in our public schools and raising teacher pay.
• We put money back in people’s pocket while making major investments in water security, infrastructure, border security, public safety, natural resource protection, school safety, and health care.

Arizona is resilient. Tough decisions will need to be made in Washington, D.C. that will trickle down to Arizona. Until then, Arizona will continue to be a national leader in economic strength, protecting taxpayers and small businesses, and planning for a bright future.