Experience, youth vie for Dist. 18 seat

It's a race of new blood versus years of experience in Mesa's District 18 Senate race, which will pit longtime lawmaker Russell Pearce against political newcomer Judah Nativio.

Pearce, a Republican coming off eight years in the state House, has gained a national reputation as a conservative penny-pincher who has championed tougher laws against illegal immigration. The Democratic challenger, Nativio, is a self-described social moderate and fiscal conservative.

With more than 26,600 registered Republicans versus nearly 18,000 Democrats and about 17,000 independents in the district that comprises the city's central and western parts, Nativio is counting on overwhelming support from the latter.

The district has traditionally sent Republicans to the Legislature.

Pearce stands for creating a safe environment for families in addition to the stock conservative platform of lower taxes and less regulation with limited government.

For Nativio, the major issues in his campaign are improving education and the economy, and dealing with social issues such as poverty and a high unemployment rate.

But the dwindling state budget remains the top priority for both candidates, although their approaches to closing the gap between income and spending differ.

Nativio does not want to cuts funds for education or for veterans, owing to the large number of troops coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. He's open to cutting spending in other departments after a "thorough review" of their finances and operations.

Pearce is steadfast about not introducing any new taxes. Instead, he advocates cutting spending - in the social services sector, for instance - to tide through the teetering state budget.

Nativio says a tax increase, though only as a last resort, has to remain on the table as an option to maintain social services, and for projects like road construction to promote economic development.

Instead of the current use-it-or-lose-it system of financing, Nativio would like to reward departments for efficiency by returning some of the money they save one year into the next.

Nativio also wants to create an oversight regulatory committee to ensure that all state programs benefit the public.

Pearce has consistently pushed for a Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which advocates limiting government growth to population and inflation increases.

Pearce, the former House Appropriations Committee chairman, says he was steamrolled by Gov. Janet Napolitano into passing the "worst budget in the state's history." He blames her for the budgetary mess and the $1 billion shortfall Arizona faces.

Nativio says Pearce is too far right in his views to be able to reach across party lines for a budget discussion. Pearce disagrees.

"We weren't able to come to agreement because (Napolitano) wanted to spend money we didn't have," Pearce said. "We were communicating but we couldn't agree, and then she found allies to help her pass the budget."

Nativio disagrees with Pearce's recent decision to stall a proposed $1 billion construction package for the state's three public universities. Pearce believes the idea that this additional debt could be repaid by expanding the Arizona Lottery is a false premise, because not enough people are buying lottery tickets.

"It would be irresponsible for this kind of spending right now," Pearce said. "To say that building new buildings somehow spurs the economy is wrong."

Nativio says he supports the improvements project because Arizona needs more college graduates.

"We cannot let our education system go," he said.

On Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's recent raids inside Mesa's city buildings, Pearce supports the sheriff's action, although he felt that it could have been handled differently. Mesa Mayor Scott Smith had blasted the sheriff for sending deputies inside city buildings in the middle of the night without advance notice to the city.

Pearce said regardless of the way it was done, the raid itself goes along with the spirit of the employer sanctions law, which penalizes businesses if they hire illegal immigrants.

"Would I have done it differently? Probably. My understanding is the first couple of times they contacted the chief, it got leaked to the press, so there's a communication problem there," Pearce said.

Meanwhile, Pearce opposes Proposition 202, or the Stop Illegal Hiring Act, which is being pushed by proponents as a reformed version of the employer sanctions law on the Nov. 4 ballot. Pearce, who authored the current sanctions law, sees Proposition 202 as a diluted version of his law.

Nativio says he does not oppose the spirit of the current employer sanctions law, but "if raiding government buildings is what employer sanctions law is being used for, then I'm for Prop. 202."

He believes the current law is creating an atmosphere of fear within the Hispanic community of unfair profiling and racism.

"When we create laws, those enforcing them should do so with proper training and funding," Nativio said. "Those here legally oppose those here illegally. It's not a one-way fight; there is bipartisan support."

Pearce favors school choice and school vouchers. Nativio says he's for school choice, as long as public schools don't lose out on funding. The candidates agree that Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards test is not benefiting the state's students.