The Copper Courier Voter Guide: Arizona’s Sixth Legislative District

Coral Evans, D-Flagstaff

Key Issues

Education

• Supports increasing teacher pay
• Affordable childcare
• Increase the education budget to modernize school supplies

Economy

• Created a small business incubator for local entrepreneurs
• Prioritize tax incentives for small businesses over large corporations

Environment

• Prevent unsafe uranium mining at Grand Canyon
• Thinning forests to prevent wildfires
• Maximize usage of Arizona’s surface water

Bio

My family has lived in Northern Arizona for four generations. My grandfather moved his family to Flagstaff in the 1940s to work as a lumberjack. I still live here with my daughter in the house he built.

I first ran for office because the local government wasn’t listening to the people they represented, and for the last 12 years I’ve had the great pleasure of public service. I’ve seen people come together to support each other, to support our schools, churches, and institutions, and to create home-grown solutions to local issues. Together, we brought a Veteran’s Home to Flagstaff, helped incubate small businesses, funded after school care, and expanded library hours.

I’ve seen education funding in Arizona fall to 49th place. I’ve seen small business owners fight obstacles to bring their dreams to fruition. I’ve seen the legislature pass legislation that prevents communities from solving their own problems. This is why I’m running for the Arizona State House. Our families deserve quality schools.

Our small businesses need support to help them grow. Our cities and towns need the freedom to make their own decisions. Together we can preserve the spirit and character of rural Arizona—because we, too, are Arizona!

Art Babbott, I-Flagstaff

Key Issues

Education

• Use additional state revenue from closing tax loopholes on increase education budget
• Invest into preschool and kindergarten programs
• Standardize funding allocation requirements for public and charter schools

Economy

• Add financial planning for recessions into the state budget process
• Add sunset dates for corporate tax breaks
• Reform state’s campaign finance laws

Environment

• Allow local governments to create water planning tools tailored to their communities
• Restrict uranium mining that could risk contaminating groundwater supply
• reform state’s forest management policies

Bio

With 15 years of County and local government elected experience, I am an innovative, independent and dynamic leader. I bring a strong work ethic, a small business owner’s perspective and a fundamental belief we should all play by the same set of rules regardless of access to money, power or political influence.

I don’t accept any corporate PAC or dark money. I’m an Independent because I believe the politics of problem solving is increasingly being lost to the politics of rigid partisan ideology. The tax payers who pay our salaries expect us to focus on solving problems and creating opportunities, not playing rigid partisan political games.

As a practical small business owner, I understand the best ideas are not constrained to a single party or ideology. People are justifiably frustrated with dysfunctional partisan politics. I build alliances and support smart, strategic ideas – regardless of whether they come from a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Independent. I support rigorous fiscal management and policies that strengthen families, small businesses and communities of northern Arizona.

Art Babbott for the Arizona House of Representatives. Independent..like Arizona!

Brenda Barton, R-Payson

Key Issues

Health Care

• Voted to allow employers to deny contraception coverage

Gun Reform

• Voted to allow firearm sales without background checks
• Supports concealed carry near schools and in public buildings

Education

• Supports early education and vocational training programs

Bio

The Rim country needs a strong advocate at the legislature where our concerns as rural Arizonans are easily lost in the shuffle. I’m proud to have served you in the state legislature and hope that my hard work has earned me your continued support.

I love being able to have effected positive change for our district and our state. The hard work has paid off as more and more companies choose Arizona as the place to relocate. I have enjoyed working to secure additional funding for our local community colleges; taking care of our veterans; helping our first responders; funding our transportation/infrastructure needs.

I served as Chairman of Land, Agriculture, Rural Affairs committee; Vice-Chairman of Energy, Environment and Natural Resources committee; Chairman of Rural Caucus. I will continue to defend our constitutional rights, our state sovereignty, and traditional family values.

Thank you for your continued support and allowing me to serve.

Walt Blackman, R-Snowflake

Key Issues

Immigration

• Supports border wall
• Supports denying funding to sanctuary cities

Health Care

• Opposes comprehensive sex education in schools
• Supports ban on abortions

Criminal Justice

• Supports sentencing reform

Bio

Representative Walt Blackman is the Republican who won the 2018 Midterm General Election for State Representative for LD6. With his election win, Walt was the first Black American in the history of Arizona elected to the Arizona House of Representatives.

Walt is a constitutionalist conservative who served in the United States Army for twenty-one years. Walt is a dedicated and experienced senior leader, and combat veteran. During his term, Walt has written several pieces of comprehensive legislation to help the people in our district and state.

Walt is endorsed by the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Arizona Fire Fighters Association, the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police, the Phoenix Police Association, The National Rifle Association, the Arizona Right to life Association, The Payson Tea Party, the Navaho Country Republican club and the National American Africa Republican Committee of Phoenix, additionally, Walt was also recognized in the 18 for 2018 National State-wide races to watch for in the 2018 midterm general elections for up and coming political stars.

He currently serves on and is Vice-Chairmen for the State and International Affairs Committee, Vice-Chair Judiciary and is a current member serving on the Government Relations, and regulatory committees.

Wendy Rogers, R-Flagstaff

Key issues

Health Care

• Restrict women’s access to health care
• Ending the Affordable Care Act

Immigration

• Ban sanctuary cities
• Supports building a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border

Education

• Remove government involvement in education system
• Supports private, charter, and homeschooling

Bio

Conservative Republican, 20 years active duty service, ret Lt Col, one of Air Force’s first women pilots, 21 years business entrepreneur, State of AZ subst teacher, real estate instructor, CCW, home school mom, Ham radio, Search & Rescue, CFI pilot. 

Felicia French, D-Pine

Key Issues

Health Care

• Offer incentives to healthcare workers and providers that offer services in rural communities
• Encourage the use of telemedicine by expanding rural brodband access
• Reduce the cost of prescription medications

Economy

• Supports the growth of Arizona’s renewable energy sector
• Offer economic incentives that encourage businesses with living wages to hire in rural areas

Education

• Offer competitive salaries for educators school staff
• Supports funding for early childhood education programs
• Reform state’s model for funding special education programs

Bio

Colonel (Ret.) Felicia French is a third-generation Arizonan, who served 32 years in the U.S. Army and Arizona National Guard, working her way up the ranks from Private to Colonel.

Felicia is a registered nurse, an educator, an entrepreneur, a sustainability scientist, a proud mom, an Afghan War veteran, a former Medical Evacuation helicopter pilot, State Equal Employment Officer, Senior Medical Advisor, and commander. Her life-long commitment to public service is also reflected in her volunteer work as a veterans’ hospice nurse in her local community, as a nurse with AmeriCares’ Hurricane Dorian disaster relief efforts, and in her local Civil Air Patrol, Tonto Rim Search and Rescue, Community Emergency Response Team, and Sierra Club.

Felicia has earned a B.S. in Nursing and an M.S. in Sustainable Solutions from Arizona State University, and an M.S. in Systems Management from the University of Southern California. She has been endorsed by VoteVets, the Arizona Nurses Association, and Protect our Water Arizona.