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Age: 24

Occupation: Teacher and athletic director, Satori Charter School (school year); behavioral health associate, Arizona Children's Association (summer)

Family: Single

Religion: Catholic

Income: No answer given

Education: Pima Community College

Political experience: None

What is the biggest issue facing your district?

Carbajal Bustamante: The economy. Jobs and wages are decreasing, while the cost of living is increasing. And when the economy is down, crime goes up.

Cruz: Anemic funding for basic social services like public education, public transportation and health-care access.

Heinz: Continued rapid growth in the context of faltering health-care and education systems with limited water resources.

Patterson: Economic justice and improving our weak economy.

Prezelski: Making sure that they get their fair share from the state.

Puig: The economy.

Guerra: Education and immigration.

Should taxes be cut or kept at current or higher levels to avoid cutting government programs?

Carbajal Bustamante: We need tax relief for working families and seniors. However, we must protect funding for education and health care.

Cruz: The Phoenix Republican fetish for cutting taxes drains state resources best used to provide top-notch schools, state-of-the-art hospitals and environmentally-friendly jobs for Arizona's citizens.

Heinz: Economic downturns can provide opportunities to trim fat from the state budget; however, given the severe underfunding of essential programs in Arizona, there is little remaining to be cut that will not adversely affect the provision of services to our people. I favor freezing implementation of previously approved tax cuts with targeted increases for sectors that are relatively under-assessed compared to other states. Making sure that the state most efficiently uses tax dollars must be a priority as well.

Patterson: Generally, stay the same, with more focus on economic justice, where the rich pay more of their fair share.

Prezelski: We have passed over $600 million in tax cuts. These have done nothing to stimulate the economy and have only exacerbated the deficit. I would oppose further tax cuts and would vote to let measures like the suspension of the school-equalization tax expire.

Puig: When you are not doing well financially, how does spending help? I would like to see them kept the same for the time being.

Guerra: To stay the same to avoid cutting government programs.

What would you do to improve Arizona's schools?

Carbajal Bustamante: I support all-day kindergarten and a tuition freeze for students entering college. We also need to invest in vocational programs and our community colleges. In order to improve Arizona schools, we must make children and their future a priority.

Cruz: The Arizona Legislature should increase per-capita spending on public education immediately to attract and retain quality teachers for Arizona's schools. To prepare Southern Arizona students for today's global marketplace, we should increase personal income and corporate taxes, and use the increased revenue to increase Arizona's abysmal per capita spending on education

Heinz: Arizona ranks 49th out of the 50 states in per-pupil spending. We owe a debt of gratitude to our committed educators who, through investment of extra time and personal funds, have been able to keep our national test scores in the average range despite the lack of financial support. To strengthen public education we must increase funding to schools and bond for construction of new infrastructure where needed. We must also expand vocational-training options.

Patterson: In the Legislature I will work for stronger investment in public schools to attract and retain more quality teachers, and cut class sizes.

Prezelski: Addressing the English-language learner issue will go far in bringing more resources to the classroom for reduced class sizes, more teacher aides and other needed issues.

Puig: Teachers are opposed to the AIMS test; they should get rid of it. Pima County needs its fair share of school funding. Not all students will be able to attend college because of finances, or because they cannot keep up with college life, so I think more vocational courses and college prep courses.

Guerra: I would suggest giving more of the power of decision-making to the schools. I would do away with the AIMS test.

What should the state's role be when it comes to controlling immigration and mitigating its effects?

Carbajal Bustamante: It is the responsibility of the federal government to enforce immigration policy and keep our border secure. The job of our local law enforcement is to prevent and fight crime, and they should be provided with the tools and training necessary to do their jobs.

Cruz: The Arizona Legislature commits jurisdictional overreach and legislative trespassing when it passes immigration law. State laws, like the proposed guest-worker program, will only exacerbate the problem of illegal immigrant overstays — the highest source of illegal immigration this country faces. Further, the proposed guest-worker program exploits low-wage, unskilled, foreign-born labor while it ignores unemployed and underemployed Arizona citizens. Immigration is a federal matter, and Arizona must demand that the federal government compose a comprehensive, nationwide immigration policy with all deliberate speed.

Heinz: The state of Arizona cannot generate independent foreign policy with regard to immigration, which appears to be what many would have the Legislature do. I agree with the governor in that the federal government must compensate Arizona for the millions of dollars our taxpayers have spent as a result of uncontrolled illegal immigration. We need a comprehensive federal solution which includes a robust guest-worker program. Until such a solution has been implemented, Arizona should not attempt to target the business community with severe fines and license revocation. We should also avoid deputizing state and local officials to enforce immigration law. They lack the appropriate training and are already stretched too thin. Such a law would also deter individuals from reporting criminal activity and from seeking timely medical attention due to fear of retribution.

Patterson: The Legislature must push Congress and the feds for an overhaul of our failed federal immigration system. I support the governor's efforts to bill the feds for uncovered costs to Arizona from the failed federal system. The state must also watch to ensure we do not have an exploited immigrant labor underclass.

Prezelski: The role for local and state law enforcement with regard to immigration is severely limited by federal law and for good reason; however, we should provide police with the resources to deal with the special problems created by cross-border crime. The measures we have passed at the state level have chiefly been dangerous political stunts.

Puig: We are a melting pot. I think we should make room for those who want to work and be productive, respect our people and obey our laws.

Guerra: The state should provide a temporary-guest-worker program that encourages citizenship after the individual has passed all background and criminal checks, and paid any compensation to the state. We must secure our borders; building a fence is a waste of taxpayers' money.

What should be done at the state level to address environmental concerns?

Carbajal Bustamante: We need to invest in solar, wind and other alternative energy. At the state level, we can offer tax incentives for those who utilize alternative energy. Also, by developing alternative energy policies, companies will be more likely to locate to Arizona, thus stimulating our economy and creating jobs.

Cruz: Southern Arizona faces a serious water shortage, and I support state mandates that require all new developments to install systems that employ recycled water or harvested rainwater for outdoor water usage. I also favor state tax incentives and/or rebates to encourage families to purchase rainwater cisterns that can collect hundreds of gallons of rainwater during the monsoon season.

Heinz: Legislators must be stewards of Arizona's environment and many natural resources, including our limited water resources. We need to enforce existing laws to assure air quality. I would also support creating additional active water-management areas throughout the state to protect our water supply. As climate change, dwindling water resources and skyrocketing fuel prices continue to plague the Southwest, we must encourage the development of high-density urban centers throughout the state.

Patterson: My family and I "lead by example" by producing solar power on our rooftop. The state should also "lead by example" by going green on all state-owned buildings, and better investing in clean alternative transit, both of which will help our environment and economy. We must also improve state water law to better protect our long-term water security and restore our rivers.

Prezelski: Local governments need to continue to have the tools to plan adequately and address the issues of growth such as impact fees and building standards. The Department of Environmental Quality needs to be allowed to do its job.

Puig: Increase public transportation, keep encouraging car pooling and bicycling, and on certain days you do not drive. For example, if your license plate number ends in 1, you do not drive on Monday. (They have that in Mexico City, and probably other cities.) Also, make all license plates at each address end with the same number. Make it harder for new developments and encourage building in the city. Another thing that might help with the gas crisis and the environment is having four days per (work) week. That would probably be more practical than that of the license plate, since we would need a very efficient transportation system to make this work.

Guerra: I support the Western Climate Initiative. This is a good start in tackling the global-warming issue. I also agree on extending some tax breaks on solar-power outfits.

Should the state expand government services to help those who lack health care?

Carbajal Bustamante: No child should go without health care. Access to health care should be expanded, especially for our children and seniors who need prescription drugs.

Cruz: I believe the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System receives too little money. Families classified as "working poor" who earn a living in our society yet receive too little income to afford catastrophic health-care coverage for themselves or their children should be covered by our state's health-care system. More money for AHCCCS, a program that focuses on preventive care, ensures families can find the help they need, when they need it, and that no Arizonan falls through the gaps in our health-care system.

Heinz: Yes. The Legislature should bring back premium sharing associated with AHCCCS. This program was successful and allowed low-middle-income families to obtain health benefits on a sliding scale based on their income. This would prevent families from dropping off of AHCCCS into the uninsured pool when their income falls just outside the required levels. Both AHCCCS and KidsCare are programs that draw down large federal contributions, making the investment from the general fund a relative bargain for Arizona taxpayers. Arizona's children should be assured coverage by the state through one of the above programs. Spreading risk across a large pool of individuals is key to making health-care coverage affordable. Preventive measures must be covered under existing plans, and wellness education must become curricular in our schools to stabilize the health-care system in the long term.

Patterson: Yes. The cost of health care has skyrocketed and is too expensive. Doctors are charging too much, and people cannot afford it. In this down economy, more people need help on health care.

Prezelski: Healthcare Group, the state's insurance pool for small business and the self-employed, should be expanded by lifting the cap on new enrollees, eliminating the absurd six-month waiting period and allowing more aggressive marketing of the program.

Puig: Yes.

Guerra: Yes, the state should expand government services to help those who lack health care. There should be an AHCCCS-type of program to help the self-employed and those who run small business. Health insurance providers should also offer discounts to the self-employed and small-business owners.

Age: 35

Occupation: Student, Pima Community College

Family: No answer given

Religion: Protestant

Income: Student

Education: Criminal justice (Mercy College), political science (Pima Community College)

Political experience: None

Age: 31

Occupation: Physician (TMC)/IPC Hospitalists of Arizona Inc.

Family: Single

Religion: Lutheran

Income: No answer given

Education: Residency/internship, internal medicine, University of Arizona, 2006; Doctor of Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 2003; Bachelor of Arts, chemistry with Spanish minor, Albion College, 1999

Political experience: Ran unsuccessfully for the state House in 2006

Age: 37

Occupation: Ecologist and Southwest director, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility

Family: Married with one daughter

Religion: Unitarian Universalist

Income: $30,000

Education: Michigan State University, B.S. (2)

Political experience: Tucson planning commissioner, Pima County Board of Adjustment

Age: 38

Occupation: Tribal planner, Pascua Yaqui Tribe

Family: Single

Religion: Catholic

Income: $32,000

Education: B.A. geography, University of Arizona

Political experience: Incumbent; Democratic precinct committeeman

Age: 54

Occupation: CNA

Family: Married. Daughters Emilie and Veronica; grandson Luis Fernando

Religion: Catholic

Income: $25,000

Education: Nursing assistant. Pharmacy technician. Working toward political science/history degree at Pima Community College.

Political experience: Unsuccessful bid for state House in 2006

Age: 43

Occupation: Custodial, University of Arizona

Family: Single

Religion: Catholic

Income: $25,000

Education: High school diploma; attended Pima Community College

Political experience: Elected precinct committeeman in 2006, two-year term