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Wide array of candidates with wide array of stances

General
GROUNDS CONTROL
LANDCAPE FOREMAN & LABORERS Health Care
Freedom Manor
Caregivers Dental
Apache Dental
Porcelain Techs General
Prestige Maintenance USA
Area Manager Education
Yavapai College
Teachers Health Care
SOUTHERN ARIZONA ENDODONTICS I
NSURANCE PROCESSOR Technical
Yavapai College
Analyst Banner Programmer

Age: 42

Occupation: Program manager, Raytheon

Family: Wife, Lesley; two sons, Frank III and Brodie

Religion: Roman Catholic

Income: Military retirement pension, VA disability, Raytheon salary, book royalties

Education: Bachelor of health science, minor in biology from Campbell University; Paramedic certification, University of Texas. Special Forces, Medicine, Intelligence and Operations from U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Political experience: Ran for Congress in Arizona's 8th District

What is the biggest issue facing your district?

Antenori: Illegal immigration

Collins: The quality of education in Arizona, immigration and the economy.

Sposito: $1.8 billion budget deficit in 2010.

Gowan: The state budget, illegal immigration and property taxes.

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

Antenori: Tax cuts have been shown to stimulate the economy. Arizona businesses can't compete in a national or global marketplace because Arizona taxes are too high.

Collins: I am a fiscal conservative, so I favor tax cuts.

Sposito: If congressional Democrats see tax cuts as the way to improve the economy, it seems the state of Arizona could do the same.

Gowan: Lower taxes have historically generated increased economic activity. States which cut their taxes attract new businesses and families looking for a better place to locate.

What would you do to improve Arizona's schools?

Antenori: Encourage competition and accountability by providing parents with the power of school choice. I also believe there needs to be a standardized discipline and dress code (not uniforms) policy in our schools, much similar to conduct and dress standards at places of business.

Collins: I would make digital technology in the classroom a priority.

Sposito: Comparing ourselves to other states does us a disservice. We need to measure our students against standards we set for ourselves.

Gowan: Performance-based pay rewards good teachers. Flexible curriculums meet the different needs of different students. Increased competition replaces failing schools with achieving ones. Increased parental choice lets parents choose the best schools for their children.

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

Antenori: The state should immediately facilitate, through legislation, the ability for small businesses and individuals to group or pool beneficiaries, enabling them to leverage a larger risk pool so they can get cheaper policy rates.

Collins: I support allowing providers and insurers to satisfy health-care needs through the free market without price controls or benefit mandates. I also support KidsCare.

Sposito: Government should not be encouraging small business to take on the load of health care for our communities. Individuals need to buy their own policies, and government should give a direct tax cut to individuals for the costs.

Gowan: When facing a $2 billion budget deficit, we are not in a position to expand spending anywhere. We do need tort reform to protect our doctors and knock down insurance costs.

Do you believe marriage is only between a man and a woman?

Antenori: Yes.

Collins: Yes.

Sposito: Yes.

Gowan: Yes.

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

Antenori: To start, interior enforcement of immigration laws and cooperation with federal agencies.

Collins: I support the current state laws. I support the use of the National Guard at the border and allowing our local law enforcement to work with the Border Patrol.

Sposito: Enforce existing laws, outlaw sanctuary cities, and work as a partner with the federal government to secure the border.

Gowan: I've worked hard to pass initiatives to require proof of legal residence to get taxpayer-funded benefits from the state. The new employer-sanction law is also working. Arizona needs the border fence completed as soon as possible.

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

Antenori: Arizona should allow non-violent inmates to work to reduce their sentence. Those who volunteer for work details to pick up trash in the desert will have their sentence reduced one day for every five days worked.

Collins: I support adequate funding for the Arizona Department of Water Resources. In the future we will have to work with the tribes to purchase more CAP water.

Sposito: Government's role should be to provide its citizens with accurate information on the state of the environment. Too often, environmental decisions are not based on science but on perception and opinion and votes.

Gowan: The voters that I speak with (and we're talking about thousands by now) all place issues like the economy, crime, education, taxes and energy prices ahead of the environment.

Age: 63

Occupation: Associate superintendent, state Department of Education

Family: Husband, Jim; two children and five grandchildren

Religion: Catholic

Income: More than the legislative salary of $24,000

Education: B.S. in elementary education. Some course work at Tufts University

Political experience: Ran for mayor of Tucson, Legislature and secretary of state

Age: 46

Occupation: Self-employed, Dasco Quality Inc.

Family: Yes

Religion: Christian

Income: No answer given.

Education: B.S., Oregon State University

Political experience: None

Age: 38

Occupation: Sales representative, Prologix

Family: Wife and two sons

Religion: Christian

Income: Enough to eat.

Education: B.A. in education, social studies from the UA

Political experience: Elected precinct committeeman; two runs for the state House, in 2004 and 2006.