Congressional candidates, left to right: Shawn Redd, Ken Bennett, Wendy Rogers, Gary Kiehne and Carlyle Begay
Patricia Tarner
The SaddleBrooke Republican Club hosted the Republican Congressional candidates for Congressional District 1 at a highly successful Meet and Greet on April 14 in the MountainView Club Ballroom.
The room bustled with eager candidates and interested Republican Club members in search of answers on pressing political issues. SaddleBrooke Republican Club Vice President Rich Brinkley briefly introduced the seven candidates present: Paul Babeu, current Pinal County Sheriff; Carlyle Begay, seventh district Arizona State Senate; Ken Bennett, former legislator and Secretary of State; Gary Kiehne, Arizona Rancher and businessman; Shawn Redd, Arizona businessman; and Wendy Rogers, retired Lt. Colonel (Air Force) and pilot. Candidate Dave Gowan, current Speaker of the Arizona House, was unable to attend.
Tables were spread throughout the ballroom where individual candidates rotated from table to table engaging in lively conversational exchanges with potential voters. Topics ranged from the economy, healthcare, veterans affairs, immigration concerns, border enforcement, terrorism and the threat of ISIS, as well as issues unique to our state of Arizona.
Bruce Ash, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Rules for the National Republican Committee, invited the candidates to give closing remarks. The event sponsored by the S
addleBrooke Republican Club presented an opportunity for potential voters to get a closer look at the Congressional District 1 Republican candidates in an effort to make an informed voting decision.