According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2008, people age 65 and older make up 13% of Mesa's population. Add in those 45 and older and now you're talking about 33% of our district's residents.

As people age, their demands on services often increases. They need higher levels of medical care. They rely more on public transportation and their ability to absorb increases in costs of goods and services decreases as their incomes become more fixed.

Arizona needs a Senator who understands what its like to have to deal with seniors with health and financial problems. I am currently the primary caregiver for my ill senior citizen father. I know first hand what its like to have to give up doing fun things in order to take care of him. I was raised to look after and take care of family, so when situations arise that if we choose one path, it makes it more expensive for those caring for seniors by passing up federal aid dollars, I'm going to think about those caregivers. When a bill comes up that increases taxes on seniors, unlike my opponent who just raised their taxes, you can bet I'm going to think about our seniors and what it means to them.

Seniors move to Arizona to retire in peace and quiet and to enjoy the remaining years of their lives. No one retires here so politicians can gain political points by scaring them half to death. No one retires here so politicians can pass laws that make it easier for scam artists to rob them of their hard-earned and saved dollars. And no one retires here to watch their home values drop through the floor.

My opponent has done more to scare seniors out of their wits, pass bills legalizing scams such as payday loans, or do more to cripple our economy and destroy our housing market than anyone in state government. His recent success at raising senior's taxes should upset every property owner in Arizona (except maybe those whose taxes he cut just so he could raise those in his own district). We simply can't afford any more of his kind of leadership.

Seniors are important to Arizona. As your next State Senator, I promise you I will look out for your well being instead of playing you for chumps. You came here to live out your years in comfort and less worries. You have my promise that I'll do everything I can to keep you safe, secure and free from worry about fraud, theft or taxes.