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.