From Tucson Tea Party

The following was done by the Tucson Tea Party, and arrived via e-mail today. Since our papers are largely ignoring everyone running in CD-7 except for Raul, please take a look:

In an effort to help get TTP members to understand the candidates running in many of the races locally and statewide we have requested that candidates in specific races reply to a few questions that we thought would be of interest to tea partiers. Many of you may already be familiar with the candidates, but hope that the following will help you with your primary voting.

We would like to remind everyone that TTP does not endorse candidates, but once the primaries are over we will be an active participant in the November elections.

The first candidates to answer questions are from the Congressional District 7 race against Raul Grijalva. They were each given the same questions and amount of time in which to answer the questions. Candidates responses are listed in alphabetical order by their last name.

Candidate Questions and Answers

Question #1 - What are your thoughts on SB1070, especially as how it relates to National immigration policy?

Ruth McClung- There is a big difference between legal immigration and illegal immigration. I support legal immigration. SB1070 was Arizona’s way to try to help with the ramifications of illegal immigration. Immigration and border security are the federal government’s job, but it has not been doing its duty. Arizona had every right to pass a bill that pushes for federal law to be enforced, though this is not an excuse for the federal government for not doing its job.

Terry Myers- Candidate had not responded by the time this email was sent.

Joseph Sweeney- I fully support we should have done it 14yrs ago. The Congress amended the Immigration and Naturalization Act in 1995. The Congressional intent was to co-operate with state police powers to help enforce the act. SB1070 does this. The administration has abolished its duty to take care to faithfully execute our laws pursuant to the U.S. Constitution Article II section 3.

Robert Wilson- I believe SB1070 was written to combat not only illegal aliens but also safe-haven laws. Arizona has a serious problem with criminal activity that starts with illegal entry into the United States of America. SB1070 helped open the eyes of the politicks in Washington and people around the world to the plight of Arizona; chiefly the safety of the residents of the state. I have outlined on my website a solution to our immigration problems that does not involve "Amnesty" and decries the "Dream Act". I am offering a simple solution to the problem.

Question #2 - As a freshman in Congress, what would be your approach in shrinking the size of government and cutting government spending?

Ruth McClung- I personally like the idea of zero based budgeting. This can be extremely time consuming so performing it every 5 to 10 years would be a reasonable approach. Periodically doing this would help clean out much of the wasteful spending because each expenditure would need to be specifically added to the budget with a reasonable explanation as to why it was better than some other expenditure.

Cutting government spending and balancing the budget would have a substantial impact on shrinking the size of government. We also need to clean out our government bureaucracy - this will shrink government influence. Regulations and mandates from our bureaucracy can slow down our economy and businesses, and can take away liberty. Some regulations and mandates are needed, but we need to get rid of the ones that are not! I have also found that there is selective enforcement of these laws and regulations, which leaves the ethical person or group at a disadvantage and is destroying justice and liberty in our country.

Terry Myers- Candidate had not responded by the time this email was sent.

Joseph Sweeney- We need to evaluate the constituents opinions on these issues. I know from some data research they expect representation that is balanced and fair. They expect more representation than what their getting.

Robert Wilson- This has so many parts to it, but in no particular order. A - work with Paul Ryan to get the "Roadmap for America" passed. B - Repeal "ObamaCare". D - Legislate a "Balanced Budget" requirement every 2 Fiscal Years. E - Cut all discretionary spending unless within the balanced budget this includes any budget item that is not included in mandated expenses ie: Dept of Education, Dept of Housing, Dept of Interior, etc.

Question #3 – What are your feelings about the recently passed Health Care Legislation? Would you support repeal?

Ruth McClung- Yes, I would support repealing the Health Care Legislation. The Health Care bill was so bad that they had to bribe people to vote for it. We can look at countries around the world, or the State of Massachusetts, to understand how damaging this law will be to America’s future health care if we do not repeal the bill.

Unless President Obama sees the light, our first line of attack on the bill should be to de-fund it. In 2012, we need to elect a better president who will help us fully repeal it.

Terry Myers- Candidate had not responded by the time this email was sent.

Joseph Sweeney- Needed for Cost(s) reasons. No; but we to amend it to keep it balanced and fair.

Robert Wilson- The so called "Obamacare" legislation constitutes a tax on all citizens. I want to repeal it and have signed the Repeal It! pledge. I have also outlined on my website a solution to bringing down the cost of Health Care. Remember Health Insurance is NOT Health Care!

Question #4 – In your own words, explain the Tea Party movement locally and nationwide.

Ruth McClung- I believe the Tea Party movement consists of local groups of people who gather together because they love America. They wish to see a return to the values that our country was founded on - especially limited government, individual freedom and personal responsibility. Our government was set up to be constrained under the Constitution, but it isn’t any more. The Tea Party movement realizes this and is standing against this trend. They seem to always gather in a peaceful and respectful manner, celebrating their first amendment rights. They are a positive political force in Arizona as well as nationwide.

Terry Myers- Candidate had not responded by the time this email was sent.

Joseph Sweeney- I believe that it is necessary to wake up our public officials on both the local and national levels. We are again sadden by taxation without representation especially on major issues. I intend to represent citizens/taxpayers 80% on major issues not 20%. I intend to do my homework and evaluate. I will follow the spirit of 1776 and the Declaration of Independence which states that just governments get their powers from the consent of the governed. Sometimes this consent needs to be researched at the state, local and national levels.

Robert Wilson- I believe the Tea Party movement is one of the great inventions that could only occur in the United States of America. Only in the USA can we have people with the most conservative principles and people with the most liberal principles standing together peacefully against the government for redress. The Tea Party movement stands for everyday people coming together to be heard with one voice that government spending, rising taxes, and mandates to the people will not be tolerated. The Tea Party is a display of the freedoms of this country in an effort to have elected representatives listen to the voice of the people. The Tea Party embodies what is right in this country fighting what is considered wrong; it is individuals from all walks of life versus political class.

Candidate Fund Raising

Financial considerations should also be important in understanding each of the candidates running in this election. This information was found on the Project Vote Smart website projectvotesmart.org.

Raul M Grijalva (D)
Raised: $521,579
Spent: $409,295
Cash on Hand: $135,341
Last Report:June 30, 2010

PAC contributions: $221,250 (42%)
Individual contributions: $292,464 (56%)
Candidate self-financing: $0 (0%)
Other: $7,865 (2%)

Ruth McClung (R)
Raised: $59,286
Spent: $37,233
Cash on Hand: $22,053
Last Report:June 30, 2010

PAC contributions: $0 (0%)
Individual contributions: $53,332 (90%)
Candidate self-financing: $5,954 (10%)
Other: $0 (0%)

Terry Lon Myers (R)
Raised: $21,786
Spent: $17,190
Cash on Hand: $4,595
Last Report:June 30, 2010

PAC contributions: $0 (0%)
Individual contributions: $45 (0%)
Candidate self-financing: $21,741 (100%)
Other: $0 (0%)

Joseph Sweeney (R)

No reports on record for this candidate.

Robert Wilson (R)

No reports on record for this candidate.


NOTE: All the numbers on this page are for the 2009 - 2010 House election cycle and based on Federal Election Commission data available electronically on Friday, July 30, 2010.

Quick Bio Info (gathered from candidate websites)

McClung

* Arizona resident since 2000
* As a teen she helped out in campaigns, volunteered in the Republican headquarters, helped in special county events.
* Graduated 2004, Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Arizona.
* Married 2005 to Micheal McClung
* Employed as a rocket scientist for a local engineering company
* First time running for CD7 US House of Representatives

Myers

* Resides in Tucson
* Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration (school unknown to us)
* Licensed by Arizona State Board of Technical Registration and Arizona Department of Real Estate
* Owns TLM Development Consultants Inc
* Served for ten years on the Oro Valley Board of Adjustments
* First time running for CD7 US House of Representatives

Sweeney

* Graduate of Salpointe High School and U of A
* Graduate 1995 J.D- not qualified for bar examination
* Director of National Service Lobby
* Candidate since 1974 for various political offices including CD 2 and 5
* Candidate for CD 7 in 2002,2004,2006 and 2008


Wilson

* Moved to Arizona in 2000 and currently resides in Maricopa, Pinal County, Arizona
* Married to Susan - one daughter
* He has a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix
* He has worked for the past 5 years in finance for a private university in Phoenix.
* First time running for political office


We hope to be able to bring you more candidate answers over the next few weeks.

Save the Date

August 28th- Join the Tucson Tea Party at Reid Park Ramada 10 from 8 am until 11 a.m. Meet the candidates who won the primaries, get literature for them and volunteer for their campaigns. More information to come later.