Arizona state Senate District 13 candidates
Name: Brent Backus Age: 61 Office running for: AZ Senate LD 13 (Republican) Family: Married to his wife Connie, and has two rescued cats.
Employment: Management System Consultant Political Experience: Currently I am the political outreach director for the AZ Tenth Amendment Center. Other political experience includes: volunteer campaign worker for Republican candidates since 1980; a former Republican committeeman; elected Republican delegate to the 1984 National Republican Convention to reelect President Ronald Reagan.
What is your background? What in your past helps qualify you for this seat? I currently work with Fortune 500 companies in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to improve their business processes to conform to international standards for quality, the environment and health and safety. I have worked in the private and public sectors for 38 years. My career work experiences, volunteer experiences and political activism for American conservative values more than qualifies me to run for the Senate seat for LD 13.
My educational background is a Master of Science in Geoenvironmental Studies. Associations with the following organizations have also prepared me for public office: Endowment member of the National Rifle Association, AZ Citizen Defense League, AZ Republican Assembly, Life member Tenth Amendment Center, Heritage Foundation, Judicial Watch
What do you feel is the most important duty of this office? Representing the legal constituents of LD13 to ensure that there are no new taxes, that the state government lives within its means, stopping illegal migration to AZ and securing our border, that there are no benefits to illegals, secure our future water resources, secure funding for our schools, protecting our civil liberties and growing our economy.
If elected, what is the one issue on which you would focus to improve Yuma’s quality of life? How? Water is the lifeblood of Yuma and AZ. The state needs to work with all interested parties to secure inter water basin transfers to feed the Colorado River system.
What is one thing you want voters to know about you? I am a conservative Republican. I believe in God and Country. The U.S. Constitution. Every issue, every time. No exceptions, no excuses.
Name: Sine Kerr Age: 56 Office running for: AZ Senate LD13 (Republican) Family: Married to my high school sweetheart, Bill, for 38 years. We have four adult children: one son and three daughters. All of them are now married and they have blessed us with 11 grandchildren.
Employment: Self-employed dairy farmer since 1980 Political Experience: An elected PC in 2016. Appointed to the AZ Senate on Jan. 8, 2018.
What is your background? What in your past experiences helps qualify you for this seat? I’ve spent this past year serving as the state senator, so that certainly helps. Beyond that, I know the issues our district faces and I speak the languages of ranching, farming and agriculture. I married a 3rd generation dairy farmer and we started our herd with 15 cows. For the past 38 years we have been growing our herd, crops and family. So we’ve run a business, made payroll, got through booming times and recessions, and are learning all about how government can be a help or a hindrance. I learned how every piece of legislation can have a profound impact on our everyday lives and our ability to stay in business. I also have a deep connection to veterans that plays a large role in my work. Those are all things I kept with me as a state senator and they are things I will not ever be forgetting.
What do you feel is the most important duty of this office? Article 2 section 2 of the Arizona Constitution states, “All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.” I think it says it all right there!
If elected, what is the one issue on which you would focus to improve Yuma’s quality of life? How? I would continue to focus on the lifeblood of Yuma and our state, which is water! With one in four jobs dependent upon agriculture in Yuma, making sure that our farmers have a secure supply of water and secured water rights is extremely critical! Agriculture in Yuma doesn’t only grow food, it grows the economy, which in turn, provides a sustainable revenue source for improving lives for families, more funding for our schools, and much-needed funding for additional infrastructure and improvements for the city.
What is one thing you want voters to know about you? I take public service seriously. I was humbled to be asked to step in when the former senator resigned and I took on the job with everything I had. I’m a conservative person, I believe in the Constitution and the rights it protects, including our Second Amendment rights, and I want everyone to live in a safe community, which means supporting our police, securing our borders, and enforcing our laws. I think about my kids and grandkids, and how what I do will impact them and your kids and grandkids. I will always listen to you, learn from you, and serve you to the best of my ability.
Name: Michelle Harris Age: 47 Office running for: AZ Senate LD13 (Democrat) Family: Michael Harris, husband. We have 4 children and 5 grandchildren. Employment: Retired Military
Political Experience: I am a first-time candidate.
What is your background? What in your past experiences helps qualify you for this seat? I was a Russian linguist in the Air Force for 21 years. I spent the last 10 years of my career deploying to the Middle East and Afghanistan. As an intelligence professional, I led crews to work together in harsh conditions to confront some of the largest foreign policy issues facing our nation. Since retiring, I’ve been working on water policy and other issues facing my community. Realworld leadership experience working with people from different backgrounds is lacking in our legislature. Problems aren’t partisan.
What do you feel is the most important duty of this office? The most important duty is to show up and represent the needs, struggles and issues of my district. That means you work at the legislature when it’s in session and work in your district when not at the Capitol. Elected officials are accountable to people we serve. I have been out in the district campaigning and, once elected, I will be doing the same thing. Elected officials have to be accessible and accountable to the people of their district.
If elected, what is the one issue on which you would focus to improve Yuma’s quality of life? How? There are many issues that need to be addressed for Yuma. We have to approve and implement a Drought Contingency Plan before the federal government steps in and our farmers are hurt. We have to improve the public education system. We also have to restore the Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF). These are just a few.
What is one thing you want voters to know about you? I want people to know this is personal for me. I grew up in Buckeye and returned home after I retired from the military. Four generations of my family live in Arizona, from my retired parents to my niece’s children going to Arizona public schools. I want to serve Arizona to secure a prosperous future for my family and yours. I’m not just looking for people’s votes; I’m asking for their trust.
Name: Don Shooter Age: 66 Office running for: AZ Senate LD13 (Republican) Family: Married to Susan, 42 years; 3 Children, 11 Grandchildren
Employment: Retired Farmer Political Experience: 3 terms in the Arizona State Senate, 1 year in the Arizona House; Chairman of the Appropriations Committee in both Chambers
What is your background? What in your past experiences helps qualify you for this seat? I know, love, and have fought for Yuma during my time at the legislature. I farmed in Yuma. Yuma’s enemies say I don’t live in Yuma. Well apparently they can’t read, because I have an Arizona Supreme Court ruling that says I am a resident of Yuma. But more to the point, there is an old saying, “You dance with the one who brought ya.” During my entire time at the legislature, I always listed myself as “Republican, Yuma” even though after redistricting 2/3 of my votes were from the West Valley.
What do you feel is the most important duty of this office? Right now, without question, the most important duty of this office is to protect Yuma’s water rights. Because of the extended drought, Lake Powell is at a dangerously low level. That’s why the boys in Phoenix want me out, because they know I can stop their water grab. Why do you think the GPL political action committee is spending so much money on hit pieces and negative radio ads? Because I am 20 points ahead of everyone in the polls and gaining. Oh and by the way, GPL stands for GREATER PHOENIX LEADERSHIP, so If you want to keep Yuma’s water, every time you hear those ads you’d better think VOTE SHOOTER.
If elected, what is the one issue on which you would focus to improve Yuma’s quality of life? How? See above, but in addition to that Yuma has so much going for it. We have abundant water (at least so far). We have, and are next door to, cheap labor. We are next to the California markets for finished goods. We need to create the business environment to take advantage of our great assets. Generally, that means keeping government out of our lives and businesses. California’s tax and regulatory burdens are driving small business out, Yuma is perfectly suited to get those businesses.
What is one thing you want voters to know about you? I have filed suit to have ALL the records of the so-called “Independent Investigation.” Evidence of my innocence was withheld and evidence of the guilt of my female accusers was taken out of the report. The report given to the members and the public was very different than the facts, and I am going to prove it. If I am guilty, why the heck would I sue to get the real report out? Stay tuned and you will see who was telling the truth...