Our District 7 Congressman will represent people from Yuma to Maricopa County, including the majority of UA students. Republican Ross Hieb has the ideas and experience crucial to acting in the best interest of the district, emphasizing federal support for university research, greater local autonomy in education, a guest worker program for immigrants and individual choice.

Hieb, chairman of the Finance Committee of the Arizona Western College Foundation, views universities as a driving force not only in the lives of people, but in the nation's economy and development. He intends to secure federal funding of research programs, upon which the UA will be increasingly dependent.

A father and grandfather, Hieb believes public schools must cut bureaucracy, offer an affordable education that emphasizes individual achievement and leave social and personal development to parents. He supports refocusing the Department of Education toward developing an e-based information system for students and away from mandating curriculum.

A former Marine pilot, commanding officer and military ambassador, Hieb is well-qualified to advocate his vision for the United States to invest in a National Missile Defense System and state-of-the-art border control measures.

Hieb rightfully advocates a freer market. He supports a flat tax, lower capital gains tax and tax credits for businesses located in economically depressed areas. Heib would establish a well-documented guest worker policy and extend NAFTA to benefit all of the Americas.

Hieb said he would neither support a federal law outlawing abortion nor an amendment to the Constitution banning flag burning. He supports a literal interpretation of the Second Amendment.

Despite his lead in the polls, Democrat Raul Grijalva places an inappropriate emphasis on entitlements and increased federal centralization of economic control that would serve to further entrench dependency in poorer areas, deter entrepreneurs and drive away high-tech industries.

And libertarian John Nemeth lacks the qualifications and leadership skills needed for the job.

Ross Hieb knows investment in the minds and technology of tomorrow and greater economic freedom is the recipe for a prosperous District 7, and has the experience to achieve that end.