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September 3, 2004/Elul 17 5763, Vol. 55, No. 50
Fifth Congressional District race heats up
MICHAEL MIKLOFSKY
Staff Writer
Arizona's eight seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up for grabs this election year. One of the fiercest primary races is in the Fifth Congressional District, encompassing Ahwatukee, Fountain Hills, Rio Verde, Tempe, and parts of Chandler, Mesa and Phoenix. Incumbent is Republican J.D. Hayworth.
The Jewish News asked the five candidates: "Overall, what strategies would you develop to ensure the security of Arizonans?" and "How, if at all, should the United States be involved in the Middle East peace process?"
The primary election will be held Tuesday, Sept. 7.
Following are profiles and responses from the candidates, in alphabetical order:
J.D. HAYWORTH (R)
Hayworth has been a resident of the Valley since the mid-1980s. He holds a bachelor's degree in speech communications and political science and has worked as an insurance agent, a public relations consultant, a radio news commentator, and a sports anchor on Channel 10 in Phoenix.
Hayworth was first elected to the District 5 congressional seat in 1995. He is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Resources Committee, and serves as an assistant congressional whip. He chairs the House Conservative Opportunity Society and the Constitutional Caucus that he helped found.
During his tenure, Hayworth has been named to the Speaker's Task Force; authored the Hayworth Education Land Grant Act, authorizing the U.S. Forestry Service "to grant federally-controlled land for construction of local schools," according to his campaign Web site.
Security: "Since Arizona's economy is so dependent on tourism, we need to ensure that airplane travel is safe. Arizona is also home to many dams, a nuclear power plant and military facilities that are potential terrorist targets. They all need protection."
Middle East: "First and foremost, the U.S. must continue to be the final guarantor of Israeli security. Second, the proper role for the U.S. is not so much to act as an honest broker for peace, but as a broker for an honest peace."
MICHAEL KIELSKY (L)
Kielsky has been a resident of the Valley since the late 1970s and graduated from Cortez High School in Phoenix. He holds a bachelor's degree in computer science, a law degree, and has worked for Honeywell, Intel, McDonnell Douglas and Motorola. He was a Superior Court and Appellate Court intern.
Kielsky is a member of the Western Libertarian Alliance, the "L" Factor, and a board member and secretary of the Arizona Libertarian Party. He has served on the Jewish Day School Student Tuition Organization board and committees and is a board member of the Tri-City Jewish Community Center. He received the JCC's 2003-04 "Rookie of the Year" award.
Security: "There are very few things government can do to 'ensure' security, mostly government creates more hazards, many of them unintended consequences. Among the things government can do is the repeal of all gun control laws, as they only disarm innocent victims, essentially serving the law-abiding up to criminals and terrorists who will never obey gun control laws when they have murderous intent."
Middle East: "As a nation, we should maintain trade and friendly relations with all, but entangling alliances with none. We should have real free trade, without bureaucratic regulation, extricate ourselves from any and all military entanglements abroad, withdraw from the United Nations and expel that socialist organization from our shores."
RON MAYNARD (D)
Maynard has been a resident of the Valley since 1985. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and is a certified public accountant. He served with the U.S. Air Force and the USAF Pararescue Special Forces. He has been an assistant controller, business owner, chief financial officer, electrician and contractor.
Security: "I would work to ensure that the security agencies of the United States communicate with one another to maximize the security of the (nation) and its citizens, provide leadership in protection of individual rights and freedoms and support the Second Amendment."
Middle East: "U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process should evolve as required by the parties involved in the dispute. As long as the United States is welcome or invited to participate, we should do so in as nonpartisan (a) way as possible."
ROSELYN O'CONNELL (R)
O'Connell has been a resident of the Valley since the mid-1980s. She holds a bachelor's degree in geography and political science. She has worked for the Arizona and Oregon departments of transportation, the Arizona Governor's Commission on the Health Care of Women, Planned Parenthood of Central and Northern Arizona, and various geotechnical and environmental consulting firms.
She has been involved with the Arizona Association for Economic Development, Arizona Consulting Engineers Association, Arizona Women in Real Estate, Arizona Women's Council and Phoenix Citizens' Bond Committee.
Security: "I will immediately begin to push for more federal dollars to better secure Arizona's borders by working closely with my peers in Congress, both House and Senate, to ensure that high-risk potential targets in our state are protected. Further, I will work to ensure that Arizona's first responders have the technology and training to protect our citizens.
Middle East: "A peaceful accord must continue to be sought to stop the terrorism (in Israel). Two things are sure: one, Arafat cannot be counted on and two, the security of Israel must be preserved."
ELIZABETH ROGERS (D)
Rogers has been a resident of the Valley since the early 1990s. She attended Arizona State University for two years, studying history and political science. She now is a clerk for a public healthcare agency and has worked at National Computer Systems, Qwest Communications and United Blood Services.
Security: "Arizona's safety is dependent on the federal government doing its job. The best way to take care of that is to work to increase the funding for the border patrol as well as the (Immigration and Naturalization Service). We also need assistance with our first responders getting the training and equipment they need. I would fight for this in Congress.
Middle East: "We should be involved in the Middle East peace process, and we should work to reduce our dependency on foreign oil to improve our position on this matter. The number one priority, though, is to have peace."
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