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home / Government
Maricopa could have a Senator in Phoenix
E. M. Murray
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Perhaps it is time for Maricopa to be represented in the Arizona Senate. Steve Smith thinks so. A resident of Maricopa, the young father of (now) two – his second daughter was born just three weeks ago – is passionate about state issues affecting us all.
Steve’s website, electstevesmith.com, boldly states that he stands for “God, Family, and Country.” The website, while giving you an overview, does not give you a sense of his sincerity or his intensity. The light blue eyes of this tall young (early 30’s) man seem to flash as he talks about the problems in state government – and the solutions.
Asked why he decided to run for The Arizona State Senate in District 23, Steve says, “The reason I got into this, frankly, is I’m just fed up – with weak-kneed career politicians – who care more about being elected, and re-elected, and re-elected than they do about the people who put them there. I love this country just too much to watch it get trampled on by these people.” Regarding his opponent, incumbent Rebecca Rios, he says, “The famous case is she shows up to a vote and votes “present.” The people deserve better. They deserve being represented by somebody who really cares about their district.”
In reference to career politicians, Steve is emphatic. “Look at their voting record and look at what they’ve done. Not look at what they’ve said, but look at what they’ve done. I’d throw every one of them out. Look at the new people that come in. If we don’t do the job, throw us out – but I’m going to do it.” How does he feel about term limits that have been suggested? “We have term limits,” he says. If they aren’t doing the job, vote them out. That’s a term limit.”
Officially endorsed by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and by State Senator Russell Pearce (the author of SB 1070), Steve is adamant that closing the border with Mexico will be a huge step toward solving Arizona’s now-critical budget problems. (Steve also has the personal support of Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, but the Sheriff has a policy of not officially “endorsing” new (unproven) candidates.) “It starts with securing the border. What does that mean? It means building a wall or a fence. You’ve got to address the hordes that are coming in – you’ve got to stop it.”
He refers to the often-quoted “FAIR Report” for many of his facts and figures about the effects of illegal aliens on the state of Arizona. FAIR is the Federation for American Immigration Reform (www.fairus.org). “FAIR said last year that $2.7 billion dollars was spent on illegals, to educate, medicate, and incarcerate in the state of Arizona. Our budget deficit on average: $2.7 billion for the year 2009. Arizona businesses either cannot compete or have difficulty competing with businesses who pay lower wages to illegal workers.”
“Instead of raising our taxes and cutting services, why not just stop the illegals? All roads lead to the budget. You want more police? What’s wrong with the budget? Illegal aliens. You want to pay teachers more money? You can’t. We’re broke. Why are we broke? Illegals. You don’t want 35 kids in your child’s classroom? Get the illegals out of the classroom.” (It is estimated that 30% of students in Arizona classrooms are undocumented aliens.) “I don’t want to pin everything on illegals,” he continues. “We certainly have made a lot of bad decisions in the state as far as spending, and spending too much, and spending beyond our means. I agree. But a huge piece of that spending goes to illegals.”
He also notes that part of the 1986 Amnesty under President Ronald Reagan called for closing the border and securing the border. “This has never been done,” he says. With the possibility of another national amnesty looming, he states, “Democrats want illegals because they know as soon as amnesty comes down, they have an enormous voting block. Under amnesty, each person could bring over their immediate family. If there are 23 million illegals, and they brought their immediate family (figuring an average of five people), that number would grow to 120 million”
About smuggling and drug trafficking by illegal aliens in our own area he says, “It’s happening right here. It’s like third world gang warfare. You only have to go a couple miles down I-8 to see litter and trash – and attempted murders. Tell me what happens when they get on Highway 347 and drive right through with their drug shipments. That’s right through our back yards, our neighborhood. And we’re complacent?”
Referring to Senate Bill 1070 he says, “It holds law enforcement accountable to federal law. If they don’t fulfill their job of protecting the public, citizens can sue them. Over 20 states have adopted or are adopting legislation similar to SB 1070.”
In watching and listening to Steve Smith, one is almost infected with his enthusiasm and his passion. One has to wonder: Is it time for a new generation in Phoenix and perhaps in Washington? Is it time to for the “old guard” to pass the torch to the younger generation? Is it time to elect young Americans who really care about this state and this nation? Perhaps it is time. Time to enact those term limits Steve referred to and “vote them out” -- and send new blood to the capital. It would, after all, be nice if Maricopa had a voice.
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Received from Steve Smith
Steve and Jamie Smith with daughter Athena and the newest addition to the family.
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