Volunteer, Tempe Community Action Agency

Candidate, Arizona State Treasurer, 2014

Mayor, City of Tempe, 2004, 2008

Member, City Council, 1998-2002

No caucus information on file.

Lecturer, Agribusiness Policy, Arizona State University

Attorney, Business Law

Professor/Lecturer, Business Law and Economics, East Kazakhstan State University

Professor/Lecturer/Co-Founder, Business Law and Economics, Kazakh-American free University

Headmaster, Tempe Preparatory Academy

Volunteer, Assistance for Independent Living

Volunteer, East Valley Habitat for Humanity

Treasurer, Maricopa Association of Governments

Vice Chair, Maricopa Association of Governments

Chair, Maricopa Association of Governments

Awards:

"Leader of the Year", Arizona Charter Schools Association

Reason for Seeking Public Office:

WHY I'M RUNNING FOR STATE TREASURER

Arizona is an incredible place filled with wonderful people and great promise. As Arizonans, we enjoy a natural environment with such great beauty and diversity. It is unmatched by most places on the planet. We can travel from unique desert environments to alpine forests or lush lakeshores in little time. Even in winter, we can go from boating and river running in the warm sun to ski slopes crowned with snow, cross-country bike rides to challenging hikes and rock climbs. In short, we can and do enjoy outdoor recreation that offers a stunning quality of life.

We trace our modern history to the mid-1800s, but we also share in an ancient history that dates back thousands of years. And so we celebrate the modern historic and the sacred ancient lives that made Arizona. We have impressive industries, some from our State's early founding, others from the war years, and some from the cutting edge that technology has to offer. We have internationally recognized public universities, and private colleges in growing numbers that offer a vitality to our communities.

Yet, Arizona continues to face challenges. If we take an inventory of all our advantages, natural and human, our Arizona should be ranking among the top performers in this nation, even in the world. But we aren't. From sustainable jobs to education, we can't seem to gather the cooperation among our people, our governmental agencies and our business community to reach our brightest promise and brilliant future. Our job growth is anemic and our education system is failing. We can do better, and with the right leadership for Arizona, we will. I offer that leadership.

As the Mayor of Tempe, I led a City from a path of deterioration and stagnation to one of unparalleled success. By working with all those willing to roll up their sleeves, we grew Tempe out of the 2001 recession to a city that is the envy of most. Stalled city and private projects bloomed. A city that, because it is landlocked and could not pursue the "scheme" of success by sprawl, had to reinvent how a city, and the State of Arizona like it, can succeed, even in uncertain times. By the time the 2008 "Great Recession" hit, we had doubled the City's savings to protect us against bad times, and were also able to cut spending by more than 17% without reducing City services. We did so while we increased policing, which resulted in the City's crime rate falling each and every one of the eight years I was Mayor. We also created the first City-based property tax system that holds tax-bills even, eliminating the surprise tax hikes other cities continue to use. We streamlined the City's operations, which caused significant private sector response with sustainable development and job growth.

I know how critical it is for us first to address our primary and secondary education systems. As an educator in K-12 and university education for more than 20 years, I have proven that Arizona schools can do better. As the pro-bono lawyer for many schools and as the Headmaster of Tempe Preparatory Academy, one of Arizona's most successful public schools, I have put my time where most politicians only put their words: making education work efficiently and effectively for Arizona students. I seek to use the lessons I have learned, and those I have taught, to improve education for all Arizona students. We need to be teaching our children how to succeed in an ever-changing world, by teaching them to think critically and thoughtfully so they will succeed no matter what the future brings.

We need to rebuild Arizona's economy on a solid foundation, not one merely dependent on building more houses. We need to attract the kinds of jobs that are worthy of our children and that can grow Arizona's economy to be one of the strongest, least volatile in the world. We have the natural resources, we are surrounded by the unmatched innate beauty of the place, and we have people, like our ancestors, who are pioneers, willing to work hard to build a better life for themselves and their families. My experience in the private sector advising hundreds of businesses toward success, my experience running what is acknowledged now to be one of Arizona's most vibrant, successful cities, my decades-work in international trade, and my years of supporting improvements in education demonstrate that I have the capacities and talents to help lead Arizona to this brighter future. I am not just now making claims of what I hope to do given our challenges. I am seeking the job of Arizona State Treasurer because of what I already proved I can do by what I have done.

I'm a businessman and economist with expertise in international trade. I hold up my record as a municipal leader and educator. And I'm proud of the proven results we've been able to achieve during my career. I look forward to bringing this expertise to the office of Arizona State Treasurer.