Club for Growth PAC Endorses Salmon

Club for Growth PAC Endorses Salmon 
Club for Growth President Chris Chocola:  “Matt Salmon will be an excellent replacement for Jeff Flake in the house and we are excited to support his candidacy.”

EAST VALLEY – Club for Growth PAC today announced that it is endorsing former Congressman Matt Salmon.  The Club for Growth is one of the nations leading organizations in advocating for lower taxes, limited government, less government spending, and free trade.
   
“The Club for Growth PAC strongly supports returning Matt Salmon for Congress,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “Matt will bring rock-solid conservative principles to Congress and he’s also a courageous veteran who will certainly play a leadership role for the new generation of pro-growth Congressmen. Matt Salmon will be an excellent replacement for Jeff Flake in the house and we are excited to support his candidacy.”

"I'm honored to receive the endorsement of Club for Growth today,” said Matt Salmon.  “The Club for Growth is one of America's leading conservative organizations advocating for the principles of smaller government, lower taxes, and economic freedom.  These are the very same principles I have always fought for in my career and will continue to fight for in Congress."

About Club for Growth
Club for Growth is a national network of thousands of pro-growth Americans, from all walks of life, who believe that prosperity and opportunity come through economic freedom. We work to promote public policies that encourage a high growth economy and a swift return to America's founding principles primarily through legislative involvement, issue advocacy, research, training and educational activity.
   
The primary tactic of the separate Club for Growth PAC is to provide financial support from Club members to viable candidates to Congress who believe in pro-growth policies, limited government, low taxes and economic freedom, both in Republican primaries and general elections.

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 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.

Matt Salmon has received endorsements from Arizona Congressman Trent Franks, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, South Dakota Senator John Thune, Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-49), Mayor Scott Smith (Mesa), Mayor Jay Tibshraeny (Chandler), Mayor Hugh Hallman (Tempe), Mayor John Insalaco (Apache Junction),  Mayor Gail Barney (Queen Creek), former Arizona Congressman John Shadegg, Arizona State Senate Majority Leader Andy Biggs (LD22), State Senator John McComish (LD20), and State Representatives Eddie Farnsworth (LD22), Jeff Dial (LD20), and Bob Robson (LD20).

Conservative Chandler City Council Leaders Endorse Kirk Adams

Conservative Chandler City Council Leaders Endorse Kirk Adams

Two conservative leaders throw support behind Adams

East Valley – Jeff Weninger and Kevin Hartke, two conservative Chandler City Council leaders endorsed Kirk Adams for congress.

Councilman Hartke, a pastor and community leader, has a reputation of integrity and sound values. Councilman Weninger, the owner of 5 successful restaurants was the top vote getter in last year’s election and is widely respected for his rational and principled leadership.

“Kirk Adams has a proven track record of breaking government’s spending addiction,” said Councilman Hartke. “His courageous leadership is critically needed in Washington D.C.”

“As a small business owner, I have firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing our economy. Washington is out of touch with the real world,” stated Councilman Weninger. “Kirk is a business owner himself and has always been an advocate for small business. He understands what it takes to be successful. He will fight the Washington machine and play an vital role in generational shift occurring among the conservatives in congress.”

Adams thanked the lawmakers for their support. “These great conservatives leaders have stepped forward to serve our communities in the private sector and public office,” said Adams. “They serve for all the right reasons and are truly principled leaders. I’m honored to have their support.”

Adams is a husband, father, and small businessman. After joining the state House in 2006, he became so frustrated by the unwillingness and inability of Republicans in the Legislature to stand up for their conservative principals that he launched a long-shot campaign to oust the veteran Speaker of the House. Adams shocked the Republican establishment and political class, winning the Speakership at only 35 years of age.

Adams turned the tide in the House and put Arizona back on the path to fiscal responsibility with an aggressive agenda of reform, courageously taking on some of the most challenging issues in Arizona.

Adams, a lifelong East Valley resident, lives in Mesa with his wife JaNae their five children.

Oakland A's Negotiating with Mesa

Great news!  It looks like there is a chance that Hohokam won't sit very long without a tenant.  The Oakland A's announced today that they have opened negotiations to move in when the Cubs leave for their new facility.  Nothing is formal at this point, but it does give Oakland the ability to negotiate exclusively with Mesa.

There is a chance that the Cubs would move out after the 2013 season and the A's wouldn't move in until 2015.  However, the year gap might be helpful for any moving and rennovations.  Between the ASU move to the Cubs facility and this news, Mesa is definitely on the winning end of some major sports victory that will help bring revenue and people into the City. 

This leaves Phoenix with only one team - the Brewers who play in Maryvale.  Most people believe that it is only a matter of time before they move as well.  That would leave Phoenix with no teams and Mesa with two!

This is more great news for Mesa.

Happy Thanksgiving - Shop Mesa

Wishing you and your family a safe and happy Thanksgiving.  Remember, if you are going out to seek those "Black Friday" deals tomorrow, remember to do your shopping in Mesa.  Keep your tax dollars in town.

Salmon racks up back to back endorsements

Two days in a row, the Salmon campaign announced several legislative endorsements:

Longtime East Valley Legislators Stand with Salmon 
Biggs, Farnsworth Tout Salmon’s Conservative Record and Experience

EAST VALLEY – Former Congressman and candidate for Arizona’s 6th Congressional District Matt Salmon announced today that his campaign received the endorsements from two more prominent East Valley legislators:

Senate Majority Leader Andy Biggs (R - LD 22)
State Representative Eddie Farnsworth (R - LD 22)

State Senator Andy Biggs stated, “Our nation is facing a critical period and we need leaders who will stand up and demand reduced wasteful spending and return our nation to a path of fiscal responsibility.  Matt Salmon has done this before in Congress and he has the knowledge and experience to get things done again.”

State Representative Eddie Farnsworth added, “Matt Salmon has a proven track record of fighting for conservative values. Arizona needs representation in Congress they can depend on and there is no one more qualified for the job than Matt Salmon.”  

Former Congressman Matt Salmon stated, “I continue to be humbled by the growing support from East Valley leaders that my campaign is receiving and I am thrilled to have Andy and Eddie as the latest additions to my team. They are without doubt two of Arizona’s finest and most respected legislative members and continue to serve East Valley residents with honor and integrity.”

LD 20 Legislators Back Salmon’s Return to Congress 
McComish, Robson, Dial Become Latest East Valley Leaders to Support Salmon

EAST VALLEY – Former Congressman and candidate for Arizona’s 6th Congressional District Matt Salmon announced today that his campaign has received the endorsements from all three state legislators in Legislative District 20:

State Senator John McComish (R-LD 20)
State Representative Bob Robson (R-LD 20)
State Representative Jeff Dial (R-LD 20)

State Senator McComish stated, "As a longtime business leader in Arizona, I can speak with certainty that Matt Salmon has the right vision and experience to advance pro-business legislation in Congress that will get our employers hiring once again. Matt understands that growing our local economy and putting more Arizonans back to work begins by enacting federal policies that cut taxes and reduce burdensome regulation on businesses. I’m proud to join Matt Salmon’s team.”

State Representative Robson added, “I have been a longtime supporter of Matt Salmon and I know firsthand that his record is tested and proven to the core. Now more than ever, we need leaders in Washington who have the experience and courage to hit the ground running and make the tough decisions that are necessary.”

State Representative Jeff Dial said, “Congress has a spending problem and we need someone in Washington to hold them accountable. Matt Salmon is the right person for the job. Matt has experience on cutting our government’s wasteful spending, slashing our budget deficits and restoring balanced federal budgets. I’m excited for his return to Congress.”

Former Congressman Matt Salmon stated, “The constituents of Legislative District 20 are fortunate to have these three leaders as their state government representatives, and I am fortunate to have their support for my campaign. I continue to be humbled and honored to receive such strong support among East Valley leaders and I look forward to working with all of them as their representative in Washington.”

Republic has a new system

The Arizona Republic has a new publishing system and not everyone is happy about it.  It also appears that they will be employing a new commmenting system as well which will be interesting to see what it does to the tenor of the dialogue. 

As we know, the newspapers have turned to make the stories more and more extravagant because it gets people tune in and argue within the comments and more people to pass the story around.  More return commenters and people seing a story means more ad views which means increased ad sales.

A national journalist recently said reporters and talk show hosts "don't have to be right, they just have to be interesting."  That is why you get so many stories about illegal immigration, mormonism, and the like.  People have heated opinions.  That is also why there was so much attention on the Pearce recall.  It was a polarizing topic with two heated sides and the flames were fanned by the media selling ad space. 

We're guessing that the biggest winners in the whole battle is the media sales guys who just saw their christmas bonus go up. 

Kirk Adams releases new campaign video with key supporters



East Valley – Kirk Adams for Congress today released its first in a series of video testimonials by Arizonans who support Kirk Adams. The video, approximately one minute and 30 seconds in length, acts as a trailer for the upcoming video series, which will feature a veteran, a teacher, a firefighter, a mother, and a college student. Each individual offers a unique perspective and explains how Kirk Adams’s political courage, personal integrity, and conservative principles have had a positive impact on them and why he’s the right choice in 2012.

“It’s so refreshing to have somebody involved with government that’s actually been on the road walked the walk, rather than just watched it and talk the talk,” observes U.S. Air Force veteran Chris Ames.

“We do what’s best for kids…it’s not what’s best for a union or association. Kirk has that perspective, what’s best for our country, what’s best for our kids,” adds Venessa Whitener, former teacher and current Higley school board member.

“I’ve been a city firefighter for 5 years—knowing that my pension probably wouldn’t be there based on the funding levels is very disheartening,” says firefighter Chris Tiller, “[Kirk] was able to actually draft something, come up with a solution to a problem that I felt very personal about.”

“I’m worried just like every other American mother should be worried. Kirk doesn’t come from an old Washington family, he doesn’t come from a lobbyist background or someone who’s been in the mix,” notes Gilbert Vice Mayor and mom Jenn Daniels.

“Kirk Adams represents a new and kind of exciting faction of the Republican Party,” ASU Student Body President Joshua Hoyt affirms, “The young conservatives like Eric Cantor and Marco Rubio who are committed to conservatism, but bring a kind of youth and life to the Republican Party.”

Adams is a husband, father, and small businessman. After joining the state House in 2006, he became so frustrated by the unwillingness and inability of Republicans in the Legislature to stand up for their conservative principals that he launched a long-shot campaign to oust the veteran Speaker of the House.

Adams shocked the Republican establishment and political class, winning the Speakership at only 35 years of age.Adams turned the tide in the House and put Arizona back on the path to fiscal responsibility with an aggressive agenda of reform, courageously taking on some of the most challenging issues in Arizona.

Adams, a lifelong East Valley resident, lives in Mesa with his wife JaNae their five children.

Senator Tom Coburn Endorses Salmon for Congress

"There is no question that Matt Salmon has the principles, courage and experience to lead the fight in Congress for our shared conservative ideals and help put America back on the path to prosperity."
EAST VALLEY – Former Congressman and candidate for Arizona’s 6th Congressional District Matt Salmon announced today that his campaign has received the endorsement from Senator Tom Coburn (OK). Senator Coburn released the following statement regarding his support for Matt Salmon:

“I am proud to endorse Matt Salmon’s campaign to return to the U.S. House of Representatives. When I served with Matt in Congress, I knew that he would always do the right thing and stand strong in the battle to reduce the size and cost of government and wasteful spending. There is no question that Matt Salmon has the principles, courage and experience to lead the fight in Congress for our shared conservative ideals and help put America back on the path to prosperity.”

Former Congressman Matt Salmon stated, “I am truly honored to receive the support from my good friend Dr. Coburn. He kept his pledge to serve only three terms in the House, just as I did, and is now leading the charge in the U.S. Senate to restore fiscal responsibility to our federal government. You will not find a stronger advocate for limited government and a more principled conservative in Washington than Dr. Coburn, and I look forward to working with him to get our country back on the right track.”

About Senator Tom Coburn, M.D.Tom A. Coburn, M.D. was elected to the U.S. Senate on November 2, 2004. Dr. Coburn and his wife, Carolyn, a former Miss Oklahoma, were married in 1968 and have three children and five grandchildren. They are members of First Baptist Muskogee.

Dr. Coburn's priorities in the Senate include reducing wasteful spending, protecting your liberty, balancing the budget, improving health care access and affordability, protecting the sanctity of all human life - including the unborn - and representing traditional, Oklahoma values. As a citizen legislator, Dr. Coburn has pledged to serve no more than two terms in the Senate and to continue to care for patients.

As a senator, Dr. Coburn has offered more amendments than any of his colleagues. He has offered amendments to eliminate funding for the "Bridge to Nowhere," the "Woodstock Museum" in New York and countless other special interests earmarks sponsored by members of both parties.

Prior to his election to the Senate, Dr. Coburn represented Oklahoma's Second Congressional District in the House of Representatives from 1995 through 2001. He was first elected in 1994, then re-elected in 1996 and 1998, becoming the first Republican to hold the seat for consecutive terms. Dr. Coburn retired from Congress in 2001, fulfilling his pledge to serve no more than three terms in the House.

About Matt SalmonMatt Salmon was first elected to the United States Congress in 1994 and served until 2000, honoring his term limit pledge. A proud 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.

Matt Salmon has received endorsements from Arizona Congressman Trent Franks, former Arizona Congressman John Shadegg, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, South Dakota Senator John Thune, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-49) Mayor Scott Smith (Mesa), Mayor Jay Tibshraeny (Chandler), Mayor Hugh Hallman (Tempe), Mayor John Insalaco (Apache Junction) and Mayor Gail Barney (Queen Creek).

Republic: February debate really a better deal for Mesa

Like we said last week, there is a lot to be excited about moving the Mesa Presidential Debate to February.  Our argument about the relevance in relation to "Super Tuesday" is front and center in this editorial from the the Arizona Republic Southeast Valley editorial board

They make two good points that we hadn't mentioned before:  1) the extra time to plan.  2) the marketing of Mesa to cold weather areas.  Both are great points which will help the debate be a better community event and put Mesa in an even more favorable light.

This is a great opportunity for Mesa to shine.

Change in climate?

The recall defeat of Russell Pearce has people wondering if there is an impending change in the political climate.  From the article, people have jumped to several conclusions including the surge of the latino vote, the rejection of the tea party, a statement against negative politics, a shift in the view on immigration, a call for a change in the primary process - the list goes on and on. 

The fact is, there is a large number of factors and outcomes that will come from the that election.  The difference is, the change isn't from the election, it will be from what people do with this election.

As we said before, the Democrats are going to use that election as the rallying cry to mount their comeback.  You can see that again within the article where the Democrat party chairman see's this vote as "a sign."  In fact, Democrats issued a memo outlying their plans for next year and how they are going to use their win as a spring board.

Don't be surprised if  Mesa is part of their plan - especially with parts of West Mesa currently being drawn in the new downtown Phoenix "competitive" district that the Democrats have their eyes on.  

Save the diving lady!

The effort to restore the neon "diving lady" to the Starlite Motel in downtown Mesa is still about $20,000 short.  The icon was damaged a little over a year ago in a heavy storm.  Now, the Mesa Preservation Foundation group is taking the restored neon pieces on tour to help raise funds.

There are many things that have changed over the years here in Mesa, but we should find ways to maintain our tradition.  Though we were never huge fans of trying to save the train in pioneer park, this icon is something that should be preserved.

To learn more about the diving lady or to donate to the preservation, click here.

Mesa Presidential Debate pushed back to Feb 22

It was announced yesterday that the Presidential Debate to be held at the Mesa Arts Center has been moved from November 30th to February 22nd.  At this point, it is not clear on how big of an impact it will have in putting Arizona's issues on the national stage. 

On the bright side, this gets the Mesa debate out of the mass of debates that has created a bit of fatigue out there.  On the disappointing side, many Arizona voters will have already voted by early ballot by the time the debate takes place.

Based on the back and forth nature of the race so far, this debate has the potential to be incredibly important - taking place two weeks prior to "Super Tuesday" which happens on March 6th (see the schedule).  The ideal scenario is that the debate could come down to two (or potentially three) candidates who have split the Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Florida primaries and are going head to head to build momentum coming out of Arizona and into Super Tuesday.

There is a slight possibility that the race has already been determined by February 22nd.  If that's the case, this move would be a disappointment but would still put be a great opportunity to showcase the Mesa Arts Center and what else Mesa has to offer.

Democrats begin to mount comeback

A year ago, it looked as if Democrats across the state and across the nation were down and out.  They lost every statewide office and had record losses in the legislature.  It seemed that the Democrat victories of 2008 were quickly eroded by a Republican tidal wave - headed by the tea party.  Now, it appears that the pendulum to begun the swing back.

Nationally, Democrats made gains at the ballot box and in the issue department, hailing the repeal of a collective bargaining ban in Ohio and a strict abortion ban in Mississippi.  Locally, Democrats made gains in both Phoenix and Tucson, the state's two largest cities. They also cheered the successful recall of Russell Pearce.

With these wins, we wonder if they will return to their efforts to make inroads in Mesa.  For those who haven't done the math yet, Mesa is now the largest city with Republican mayor and elections are up next year.  In addition, the Democrats have already threatened a recall election on Rich Crandall (see also Vote Dem). 

Don't be surprised if its a concerted effort to increase participation and help Obama's efforts to win Arizona in 2012.  As we said before:

"Don't be surprised if the GEMDEM group that was born out of the 2008 Presidential Election will be humming with activity when the 2012 election comes around. Don't think that Team Obama isn't already strategizing for his re-election, because they most certainly are."

Congressman Darrell Issa Backs Salmon for Congress

“With our nation currently facing so many daunting challenges, we need more experienced and proven leaders like Matt Salmon in Congress.”
EAST VALLEY – Former Congressman and candidate for Arizona’s 6th Congressional District Matt Salmon announced today that his campaign has received the endorsement from Representative Darrell Issa (CA-49). Congressman Issa released the following statement regarding his support for Salmon:

“I strongly support former Congressman Matt Salmon’s return to Congress. Matt is a principled conservative and he was instrumental in passing policies that strengthened our economy, created private sector jobs and balanced our federal budget. With our nation currently facing so many daunting challenges, we need more experienced and proven leaders like Matt Salmon in Congress. I know he’ll be a strong ally in my efforts to hold our government leaders accountable and reform our government.”

Former Congressman Matt Salmon stated, “Congressman Issa is one of our country’s strongest conservative patriots and I am grateful for his support. As Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Congressman Issa is leading the charge to keep our government leaders accountable to the public.  From my first day back in Congress, I will join his fight to shed more light on the ongoing Fast and Furious investigations and bring accountability to those responsible for this troubling scandal.”

About Rep. Darrell IssaCongressman Darrell Issa represents the people of California’s 49th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, a seat he has held since 2001.  As a fiscal conservative committed firmly to low taxes and free markets, Issa has opposed the rise of out-of-control government spending and fought tirelessly for the responsible, transparent use of taxpayer dollars.  He’s pushed to achieve more whistleblower protections for those who report waste, fraud and abuse in the federal bureaucracy.  And he’s offered substantive reform initiatives to open up government so that Americans know what’s happening in Washington and can become more democratically engaged in the day-to-day oversight of their government.

As a Congressman and leader in California grassroots politics, Issa has championed the cause of smart, efficient government, and has pushed legislation to balance the federal budget and promote transparency across the federal bureaucracy. In 2003, Issa was the architect behind the successful popular uprising to recall former Democratic California Governor Gray Davis. Congressman Issa and his wife Kathy live in Vista, CA.  They have one son, William, and celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in 2010.

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 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.

Matt Salmon has received endorsements from Arizona Congressman Trent Franks, former Arizona Congressman John Shadegg, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, South Dakota Senator John Thune, Mayor Scott Smith (Mesa), Mayor Jay Tibshraeny (Chandler), Mayor Hugh Hallman (Tempe), Mayor John Insalaco (Apache Junction) and Mayor Gail Barney (Queen Creek).

Election Day in LD18

Don't forget to cast your vote in the LD18 recall election today if you haven't done so already.  It will be interesting to see how the vote turns out tonight with so much negativity and back and forth on both sides.  Will people show up to vote or will they stay home? 

Did Adams and Crandall endorse Jerry Lewis?

Well, it looks like Kirk Adams and Rich Crandall have endorsed Jerry Lewis in his run against Russell Pearce.  Or have they?  What they have done is tip-toe the fine line of the "non-endorsement" - bashing Pearce supporters but falling short of throwing their support behind Lewis.

Yesterday, Kirk Adams attacked Pearce supporters for their tactics.  Setting aside for a moment the irony of Adams saying "Contrast and negative campaigning will always be part of politics" after just completeing a push poll against his opponent, the most interesting thing is that Adams attacks Pearce's supporters without attacking Pearce.  Similarly, he defends Jerry Lewis - but doesn't offer up an endorsement.

Previously, Senator Rich Crandall took a similar approach decrying dirty politics in an editorial but came short of endorsing Lewis.  However, yesterday, he complimented Adams on his stance and then grouped himself in with other who have and have not endorsed Lewis.  Maybe this new aggressive tone is because there is a potential that Crandall may have to go head to head with Pearce.

So the question remains, did Adams and Crandall endorse Jerry Lewis?  That's the beauty of the "non-endorsement." It allows them to sit on the fence and play to both sides.

Both Adams and Crandall have a problem.  They both tout a track record on immigration that relies heavily on the passage of SB1070.  On his website, Adams says, "As Speaker of the House, I passed SB 1070 and made resources available to defend it in the courts."  On his website, Crandall says, "I am very disappointed that the Obama Administration decided to sue Arizona to stop SB 1070" and goes on to talk about how he will defend the bill. 

Who was the champion of SB1070?  Russell Pearce. 

So, Adams and Crandall don't want to risk their immigration cred so instead, they decry "dirty politics" and other platitudes which help Lewis but in their mind "technically" keep them neutral in the race.

Mesa Lands Presidential Debate November 30

Great News.  Mesa has landed the Republican Presidential Debate slated to be held in Arizona on November 30th.  This is a great opportunity to showcase the Mesa Arts Center and what else Mesa has to offer.

As we said before, Mesa is the bedrock of Republican conservatism in the valley and much more likely to vote for any of the GOP nominees than Tempe or Phoenix.  It is welcome news that Governor Brewer and Republican leaders realized that fact.

Mesa has received national attention in recent years, with Obama making a speech as well as McCain/Palin.  Here is hoping that this can bring even more positive attention to the City and allow the nation to understand some of the major issues facing the southwest including: immigration, housing, mortgages, healthcare, transportation needs, and changes in business and development.

Similarly, we still maintain that the federal government could learn a thing or two about balancing their budget by following Mesa's lead.

Mayors Scott Smith and Jay Tibshraeny Endorse Salmon for Congress

Mesa and Chandler leaders praise Salmon’s record of supporting East Valley cities

EAST VALLEY – Former Congressman and candidate for Arizona’s 6th Congressional District Matt Salmon proudly announced today that his campaign received the endorsements from two more prominent East Valley Leaders:

Mayor Scott Smith – City of Mesa
Mayor Jay Tibshraeny – City of Chandler

Mesa Mayor Scott Smith stated, “Matt has a proven track record of supporting East Valley cities and understands firsthand how overbearing federal regulations and policies have a direct effect on local government.  This district is home to the region’s most dynamic economic engines such as Gateway Airport, Falcon Field, and Boeing and Matt understands how municipal and federal governments can work together to create jobs and economic opportunity for Arizona citizens. I am proud to join Matt’s team.”

Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny added, “Matt Salmon has shown time and time again he has the principles and courage to get the job done in Washington.  Matt was an integral member of a Republican-majority Congress that balanced a federal budget for the first time in over a generation, and I know he’ll lead the fight to do it again.  The problems that our nation faces are daunting and Matt’s experience in Congress will allow him to hit the ground running and get to work on finding the solutions.” 

“I am honored to have the support from two of the East Valley’s most innovative and respected leaders in my bid to return to Congress,” said Salmon. “I know how critical it is to have strong working relationships with our local leaders and I plan to work closely with all municipal leaders in my district. Mayors Smith and Tibshraeny have made the tough decisions necessary to balance their city budgets, while maintaining the critical services their constituents require.  I pledge to make the same tough decisions back in Washington in order to get our country’s financial house back in order.”

With a population of over 430,000 residents, the city of Mesa is currently the 3rd largest city in Arizona and the 38th largest in the nation, encompassing the majority of congressional district six.  Mesa is home to the Apache Helicopter production facilities in addition to the former Air Force Research Labs at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.  Chandler is currently the 4th largest city in Arizona and is home to the Intel Corporation, Microchip Technology and Freescale Semiconductor.
Mayors Smith and Tibshraeny join East Valley mayors Gail Barney (Queen Creek), Hugh Hallman (Tempe) and John Insalaco (Apache Junction) in supporting Salmon for Congress.

About Mayor Scott Smith
As a first-time political candidate, Scott Smith was elected Mayor of Mesa, Arizona in May of 2008. As a strong proponent of regional solutions, Mayor Smith serves in key roles on many local, state and national boards and committees. Most recently, Smith was elected as the Second Vice President of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM). He will become the organization's president in 2013 and the first Arizona mayor to serve as president of the organization. Mayor Smith earned a degree in Accounting from BYU, and MBA and JD degrees from Arizona State.  He and his wife Kim have been married for more than 30 years and have three children and three grandchildren.

About Mayor Jay Tibshraeny
Mayor Jay Tibshraeny began his unprecedented 5th term as Chandler’s Mayor in January 2011 after serving eight years in the Arizona State Senate from 2003-2011. He originally served as a member of the City Council from 1986 to 2002 as Councilmember, Vice Mayor and as Mayor.  He was first elected Chandler Mayor in 1994, and served in that capacity for four consecutive terms through 2002. Mayor Tibshraeny is a small businessman and a citrus grower. He completed 12 years in the Chandler Public School System and holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Arizona State University. He and his wife Karen have one daughter, Lauren.

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 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.

Matt Salmon has received endorsements from Arizona Congressman Trent Franks, former Arizona Congressman John Shadegg, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, South Dakota Senator John Thune, Mesa Vice-Mayor Scott Sommers, Mesa Councilmembers Dave Richins, Dennis Kavanaugh and Christopher Glover, and Chandler Councilmembers Rick Heumann and Jack Sellers.