Editor's note: This article is part of the Wildcat's continuous coverage of the 2002 Arizona election.

In four days, candidates for the District 27 state house and senate races will go head to head for their party's nomination.

UA often finds itself under the reign of the state legislature, which balances the budget for all state agencies.

Six candidates are up for the House democratic nomination and two democrats are up for the nomination in the Senate race.

The candidates that make it beyond Tuesday's primary election will seek to oust the republican incumbents come the general election in November.

Olivia Cajero-Bedford (D)

šEducation:
Graduate of Tucson High School

šAt a glance:
Cajero-Bedford wants to work hard to ensure as few budget cuts in state universities as possible. Universities are essential because they generate revenue, create employment and provide research, she said.

Her goal is to lower the drop out rate in high schools and to increase vocational education classes.

Jesse Gorge (D)

šEducation:
B.S. from Sul Ross State University

šAt a glance:
Gorge says the university system plays a critical role in the economy.

"The universities are top priority and feed to help the economy," he said.

A strong and valuable education system helps give students a greater source of income and this, in part, could go back to the state, he said.

Sally Ann Gonzales (D)

šEducation:
Master's from UA

šAt a glance:
Gonzales sees the universities as being important to producing a high quality job force.

UA is working hard in technology and that will help create new jobs and high tech fields.

"As an educator, I see the university is really important in producing teachers that can help all students learn," she said.

Peter Hormel (D)

šEducation:
B.A. from Brown University, J.D. from UA

šAt a glance:
Hormel could not be reached for specific comment on UA related issues but his ideas for education include expanding kindergarten and preschool programs by getting rid of many sales-tax exemptions that, he says, won't affect working families.

Phil Lopes (D)

šEducation:
M.A. from University of Wisconsin

šAt a glance:
The university is a major employer to so many people and contributes to the economy positively in that way, Lopes said.

"More education equals more money equals more taxes," Lopes said.

He says the university should not just train but also get people into fields.

Val Romero (D)

šEducation:
Attended UA

šAt a glance:
"We need to take care of the state's mess first and then put the money back into the university," he said.

Romero said that too much spending is used in many areas such as welfare and the prison system but that taxing is not the way to get out of the state's budget crisis.

Jorge Luis Garcia (D)

šEducation:
B.A. from UA, Master's from ASU

šAt a glance:
Garcia's top issues include prescription drugs for senior citizens, balancing a sensible state budget, quality education for all, availability of affordable housing and protecting Arizona's natural resources.

John Kromko (D)

šEducation:
Bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University, Master's from Temple University

šAt a glance:
Kromko's top issues include ensuring that schools must have smaller classes, supporting the AIMS test, changing the state's tax structure and increasing health care availability.