Russell Pearce

Russell Pearce (23 June, 1947- ) is a Republican American politician representing Mesa in the Arizona House of Representatives. He is currently serving as the Chairman of House Appropriations Committee. Pearce is best-known for sponsoring legislation seeking to prevent illegal immigration. He favors a strong border security policy and is outspoken in his opposition to amnesty for illegal aliens. This has occasionally brought him in conflict with business interests, including some of his Republican peers. Fact|date=April 2008

History

Russell K. Pearce was born on June 23, 1947 to Hal Frost Pearce and Norma Crandell.

Pearce received a Medal of Valor during his 35 years as an officer of the [Maricopa County, Arizona Sheriff's Department where he rose to the position of Deputy Sheriff. During his tenure, he investigated many violent crimes and was injured on duty, once being shot in the chest. His record and known views on public safety won him the attention of conservatives and Republican officials Fact|date=April 2008, and he was appointed as state Director of Highway Safety.

Political positions

Pearce advocates for the following positions:cite web|url=http://mesa18.com/candidates/russell_pearce.htm|title=Russell Pearce:Arizona State House of Representatives|first=Russell|last=Pearce|accessdate=2008-03-12]

* a smaller and more efficient government
* eliminating what he sees as the US Government's abuse of eminent domain
* preventing illegal crossings of the border of the United States with Mexico
* a pro-gun righs position with reference to the Second Amendment in the context of the US gun rights debate
* supporting private property rights
* improving education and "restoring discipline"
* supporting the Boy Scouts in their moral leadership goals
* supporting traditional family values
* promoting Pro-life views
* supporting the "Tax Payer's Bill of Rights"
* against as judicial activism
* improving transportation, including freeways
* promoting parental rights

Immigration policies

Pearce has fought for restricting illegal immigration into the United States. He drafted Proposition 200, popularly known as Protect Arizona Now, to stop voting fraud and welfare fraud by illegal aliens.

In a recent story on NPR, he was quoted as saying, "I believe in the rule of law … I've always believed in the rule of law. We're a nation of laws."; and "I will not back off until we solve the problem of this illegal invasion. Invaders, that's what they are. Invaders on the American sovereignty and it can't be tolerated."cite news|title=The Man Behind Arizona's Toughest Immigrant Laws|first=Ted|last=Robbins|publisher=NPR|date=March 12, 2008|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88125098|accessdate=2008-03-12]

Award for tax policy

Americans for Tax Reform has named State Representative Russell Pearce as a ‘Hero of the Taxpayers’ for 2003. [cite web|title=Americans for Tax Reform Honors Heroes of the Taxpayer|date=March 15, 2004|publisher=Americans for Tax Reform|url=http://www.atr.org/content/html/2004/mar/pr-heroes_3-15-04.htm|accessdate=2008-03-12]

Future plans

Pearce is currently running for the state senate to fill the spot that has been left vacant by Karen Johnson. He is running against Kevin Gibbons in the Republican primary.

Controversy

In October 2006, Russell Pearce forwarded an email from National Alliance, a White Separatist group, to a group of supporters. The email criticized the media for promoting multiculturalism and racial equality, for depicting "any racially conscious White Person" as a bigot, and for presenting the Holocaust as fact.cite web | title = Pearce e-mail draws apology | publisher = Arizona Central | date = 2006-10-10 | url = http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/1010pearce-ON.html | accessdate = 2007-12-24 ] He quickly apologized. The article reports, "He does not agree with the sentiments in the article, but that the title and the first paragraphs about media bias appealed to him. He said the article had been forwarded to him by someone else and he would not have sent it if he had read it in its entirety." He stated in one of his apologies, "Ugly the words contained in it really are. They are not mine and I disavow them completely. Worse still, the website links to a group whose politics are the ugliest imaginable."

In April 2008, Pearce sponsored a measure, Senate Bill 1108, that would prohibit students of Arizona universities and community colleges from forming groups based in whole or part on the race of their membership. Pearce said he didn't want students indoctrinated with seditious or anti-American teachings. The bill would ban groups that serve minority interests such as the Mexican American study program and the Black Business Students Association. cite web | title = Plan targets anti-Western lessons | publisher = Arizona Central | date = 2006-10-10 | url = http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/04/17/20080417unamerican0417.html | accessdate = 2007-04-17 ]

Personal life

Russell Pearce lives in Mesa, Arizonacite web|url=http://azleg.gov/MembersPage.asp?Member_ID=45&Legislature=48|title=Member Page: Russell K. Pearce|publisher=Arizona State Legislature|accessdate=2008-03-13] with his wife, LuAnne. He has five children, Dodi, Sean, Colten, Justin, and Joshua.

Pearce is a practicing member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

References