Thursday, July 21, 2011

Get To Know Russell Pearce - Biography

How much do you know about Russell Pearce? Mesa Arizona Now! has an extensive write up:

Born on June 23, 1947 as one of thirteen children in Mesa, Senator Russell Pearce is a fifth-generation Arizonan on both his mother's and his father’s side. His family has long served the public interests of Arizona and its people. His Great, Great Grandfather Harrison Pearce built the Pearce Ferry on Lake Mead. His Great Grandfather James Pearce founded Taylor Arizona in the 1860’s. His Great Uncle Joe Pearce was one of the original Arizona Rangers serving from 1901-1909.

Pearce’s youth was tough. His family was poor and his father was an alcoholic without a steady job which caused the family to move from one squalid rental home to another. Pearce recalled in an Arizona Republic article that his father “was a good man, but he was very weak. He wasn’t the kind of dad, or husband he should have been. Pearce describes his mother as “a saint”. He does not ever remember going to bed she was not still up working or getting up that she was not already up working. Her integrity, do-it-yourself attitude, and sense of personal responsibility influenced Pearce’s core political beliefs. In an Arizona Republic article Pearce recounts how as a child, upon returning home one afternoon with his family, they discovered groceries left by a good Samaritan. Despite the helpful and necessary gift, Pearce’s mother refused to let her children touch the groceries, explaining, “it was her job to raise her family”. Consistent with that belief, though they could have used the help, his mother “never took a penny from government or anybody else.”

Click here to read the rest.

1 comment:

The Wanderer said...

It is very commendable to have personal responsibility like Pearces mother did. My grandmother had a similar type of husband in her first marriage and was similar as Mrs Pearce. But I was also taught that you should humble yourself when others want to serve you and to overcome self pride.

But what I thought was funny is that Pearce did take public funds for his last election. So he really has not lived up to his values of never asking for gov. money. He is also doing fundraisers with lobbyist and out of state interest which concerns me. If he wants to be re-elected, get out and talk to the people instead of holding big wig fundraisers. Talk to your constituents, ones who agree, disagree and are in the middle. Talk about the issues that face your district instead of his own self interest. I would have more respect for him if he did that.