Dear Editor,
I was disturbed to read the hit piece on State Representative Steve Smith in last week’s opinion section. The author, Bill Burns, tries to pump up Smith’s opponent, Scott Bartle, by tearing Smith down. Then you read that Burns is a registered Democrat. What a surprise that a liberal democrat has bad things to say about a conservative Republican like Steve Smith.
Most citizens know Representative Smith has consistently stood up for Arizona taxpayers. In fact, he’s earned Americans for Prosperity’s “Champion of the Taxpayer” award and has one of the highest average lifetime scores from AFP-Arizona. In addition to his conservative record on fiscal issues, Smith has voted consistently conservative on social issues: sanctity of life, education and school choice, and religious freedom – to name a few.
During the 2013 legislative session, Representative Smith voted to stop the encroachment of Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion into Arizona as well as the federal overreach of Common Core. Smith’s challenger is on record publicly supporting both federal intrusions.
Steve Smith has stood against illegal immigration trespassing into Arizona. His stance against the Obama Administration and his effort to lead the charge in securing the border has not gone unnoticed.
Smith has also been a champion for small business recently earning NFIB’s “Guardian of Small Business” award. As Arizona continues to pull out of a lengthy recession, district residents need someone they can count on to stand behind local business owners.
The values of our district are best represented by Steve Smith. He has remained principled, standing up against the governor of his own party and special interest groups when they pressured him to pass special deals. Smith is a fighter and someone we can trust to do the right thing. That’s why he has been endorsed by Sheriffs Joe Arpaio and Paul Babeu.
This primary election, I will be voting for Steve Smith for State Senate because Arizona needs someone working to stop the Obama Administration and big government from forcing Obamacare, Common Core, increased taxes, burdensome regulation, and runaway illegal immigration on Arizonans.
Ken Wright
Tucson, Arizona 85742