Kirk Adams announces campaign for Congress

Senator Jon Kyl endorses Adams, will serve as Honorary Chairman

Mesa, Arizona – Kirk Adams is excited to announce today his campaign to represent the East Valley in Congress, pledging to bring the same conservative principles and tough decision-making he exhibited as Arizona Speaker of the House back to Washington.

“I’ve taken on the unions, the lobbyists, the career politicians and the voices of stagnation here in Arizona, and I intend to take them on in Congress,” Adams said. “We can’t afford to kick the can down the road anymore. We need someone who will fight to cut spending, reform entitlements, secure our border and return to the founding principles of our Constitution before it’s too late.”

Adams is also proud to have the support of Senator Jon Kyl, who is endorsing Adams and will serve as the campaign’s Honorary Chairman.

“Senator Kyl is a mentor and a hero of mine, and I’m humbled and thrilled to have him as part of this campaign,” Adams said.

Senator Kyl, a national conservative leader, said Adams is the candidate he trusts to fight for the East Valley and conservative principles.

“Kirk is exactly the kind of fresh, conservative leader we need to send to Congress to stand up for our principles. He’ll make an outstanding congressman. My only regret is that I won’t be there to serve with him when he’s elected,” said Kyl.

Adams, a husband, father and a small businessman, is a lifelong resident of the East Valley. After building a successful property and casualty insurance business, Adams was first elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2006 hoping to craft conservative policies to make Arizona a better place for his family.

But he soon found himself frustrated by the failed attempts of the Republican majority to stop the liberal policies of Janet Napolitano and the Democrats. So, Adams decided to run against the veteran Speaker of the House after only one full term in office on a pledge of more aggressively pushing a conservative agenda and bringing more transparency to the Legislature.

Adams shocked political observers, when at only 35 years of age, his long-shot bid was successful – making him the youngest Speaker in Arizona’s history.

In his three years in the top leadership post in the House, Adams turned the tide. In the aftermath of Janet Napolitano’s spending spree, Adams negotiated and authored the first structurally balanced budget in at least five years – and without any accounting gimmicks or debt financing. In total, Adams pushed more than $3 billion in spending cuts through the House.

Adams’s Jobs Bill resulted in the largest permanent tax cut in Arizona history. Adams even took on the public-employee unions, authoring and passing a top-to-bottom reform of the state pension system to free taxpayers from ever increasing liabilities. And as Speaker, Adams helped ensure the passage of SB1070 and make sure it was defended both in the court of law and against the liberal media and national boycott groups.

“Our country is at a turning point,” Adams said. “If we don’t return to the founding principles of our Constitution and make tough decisions now to drastically cut spending and reform government, we will soon be living in an America we don’t recognize. I’ve got the record to prove I’m not afraid of taking on the old guard, the liberals and the media in order make the tough decisions necessary to save our country.”

Congressman Trent Franks Endorses Matt Salmon

"Matt brings the kind of leadership Arizona needs and I look forward to working with him."

EAST VALLEY – Former Congressman Matt Salmon announced today that Congressman Trent Franks has endorsed his bid for Congress.

Franks said, "I have known Matt Salmon for many years. He is a solid fiscal conservative who has unparalleled experience in balancing budgets and protecting the taxpayers. Matt is a staunch defender of the unborn and a champion for second amendment rights. He has the experience, understanding, and skill to be a driving force in Congress. Matt brings the kind of leadership Arizona needs and I look forward to working with him."

"I am honored to receive the support of Congressman Franks," said Salmon, "He is a champion for limited government and reducing the burden on taxpayers. He has worked tirelessly on children’s issues and protecting the innocent. I am proud to call Trent my friend and I hope to soon call him my colleague."

About Congressman Trent Franks
Congressman Franks is serving his fourth term in the United States Congress, representing the Second District of Arizona. He serves on the Armed Services Committee and the Judiciary Committee, where he is the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Commercial Law and Administration. He is an active member of the Republican Study Committee and is an Executive Committee Member of the Tom Lantos Congressional Human Rights Commission, co-founder and co-chairman of the International Religious Freedom Caucus. Congressman Franks also serves on a host of task force and caucus groups, including the House Working Group on Judicial Accountability, the Education Freedom Caucus, the House Working Group on Waste, Fraud and Abuse, the Liberty Caucus, the Human Rights Caucus, the India Caucus, the Anti-Terrorism Caucus, and is co-founder of the Israel Allies Caucus (IAC).

About Matt Salmon
Matt Salmon was first elected to the United States Congress in 1994 and served until 2000, honoring his term limit pledge. A proud fiscal conservative, Salmon was rated in the top five among all 535 members of the House and Senate by Citizen’s Against Government Waste for all six years he was in office. He is a lifetime member of the NRA with an A+ rating and also earned a 100% rating by the National Right to Life. He was also the proud recipient of the American Cancer Society’s "Top National Elected Official" award.

Salmon Announces Bid to Return to Congress

"East Valley needs experienced leadership representing our interests in Washington."

EAST VALLEY – Former Congressman Matt Salmon announced his bid today to return to Congress to represent the same area he served nearly a decade ago. Salmon was first elected to the United States Congress in 1994 and served until 2000, honoring his term limit pledge. A proud fiscal conservative, Salmon was rated in the top five among all 535 members of the House and Senate by Citizen’s Against Government Waste for all six years he was in office.

"I want to return to Congress because I believe that, now more than ever, the East Valley needs experienced leadership who will represent our interests in Washington," said Salmon, "Over the past few years, we have watched as our taxpayer dollars have grown government and bailed out Wall Street."

Salmon was named a "Watchdog of the Treasury" all six years he was in office. He also earned the "Taxpayer Hero Award" from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste. Salmon’s pro-business policies also earned him the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce each of his six years and six consecutive honors as a "Friend of Small Business" from the National Federation of Independent Business. Matt Salmon played a pivotal role in balancing the first federal budget in a Generation, and understands what it takes to build the economy and create jobs.

"Government debt and Congressional inability to control spending is the greatest crisis facing America today. We have mortgaged not only our children’s futures but our children’s children’s future. We must reform our entitlement state, revamp our tax code to conform to today’s economy and live within our means," said Salmon.

"Matt has been a great public servant and a longtime friend of Mesa," said former Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives Mark Killian, "He is a man of integrity and understands the importance of having good values when representing the people. He understands what it means to serve and how critical projects such as Williams Gateway, Falcon Field, and transportation improvements are to the long term economic health of our region. Matt Salmon brings immediate experience and credibility to Congress on his first day."

Salmon is a lifetime member of the NRA with an A+ rating and also earned a 100% rating by the National Right to Life. He was also the proud recipient of the American Cancer Society’s "Top National Elected Official" award.

"I have known Matt for long time," said Chairman of the Arizona Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce, "As a Congressman, he did a lot of good work for the people of his district and the entire East Valley. He is a man of his word and someone we can count on in Washington."

"Matt isn’t about making speeches; he’s about getting things done," said Bobby Harris, the former Police Chief of Chandler, "He has a successful legislative track record and was instrumental in the passage and signing of legislation such as ‘Aimee’s Law’ which pushed for truth in sentencing laws and no early parole for rapists, molesters, and murderers."

Aimee’s Law was supported by a large number of organizations and victims’ rights groups including National Fraternal Order of Police, Law Enforcement Alliance of America, Kids Safe, Justice for All, National Association of Crime Victims' Rights, and the Women's Coalition. In 2000, Salmon was also instrumental obtaining the release of U.S. based academic researcher Song Yongyi who was being held in China on spying charges.

Salmon’s campaign will be co-chaired by Former Arizona Speaker of the House Mark Killian and Arizona State Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce.