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TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION."

A SPECIAL EDITION OF "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

TONIGHT, WE FEATURE A CONVERSATION AMONG CANDIDATES RUNNING IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR ARIZONA GOVERNOR.

OUR "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION" IS NOT A FORMAL DEBATE.

IT'S AN OPEN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GIVE AND TAKE FOR ONE OF ARIZONA'S MOST IMPORTANT OFFICES.

IT'S A DISCUSSION AND OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE ALL SIDES GET A FAIR SHAKE.

KEN MICELI OWNS A PAINTING AND CONTRACTING BUSINESS IN SCOTTSDALE.

SCOTT NEELY, ENTREPRENEUR IN THE CONCRETE INDUSTRY, AND DAVID SCHWEIKERT, REPRESENTED THE NORTHEAST VALLEY IN CONGRESS FOR 16 YEARS.

AND ANDY BIGGS DECLINED OUR INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

CONGRESSMAN, START WITH YOU, YOU'RE LEAVING CONGRESS TO RUN FOR AN ARIZONA OFFICE.

IT'S THE GOVERNOR, A BIG OFFICE, YOU ARE LEAVING CONGRESS, WHY THE DECISION?

>> MY LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION.

LOOK, I'M CHAIR OF WAYS AND MEANS AND CHAIRED THE ECONOMIC COMMITTEE.

OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WE'VE DONE THE LEGISLATION, THE POLICIES, THE RESEARCH TO SHOW WAYS TO STABILIZE U.S.

DEBT.

I CAN'T GET FELLOW REPUBLICANS TO SPONSOR THE BILLS WITH ME, AND YOU HIT THIS LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION IF YOU FUNCTION AND CAN'T SAVE WASHINGTON, MAYBE YOU CAN SAVE ARIZONA.

TED: AS FAR AS THIS CAMPAIGN IS CONCERNED, THIS IS A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, WE'RE FOCUSED ON REPUBLICAN VOTERS.

ARE YOU SUPPORTIVE ENOUGH OF THE PRESIDENT FOR A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS?

>> YEAH, HAVING GOTTEN TO THE PRIMARY RACE LATE, BUT THE INTERESTING FACTOID, I HAVE A BETTER VOTING RECORD WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP THAN ANDY BIGGS DOES.

GO TAKE A LOOK AT 2025, I HAD 100%.

HE DID NOT.

IT'S JUST THE NATURE OF THE VOTES YOU'VE TAKEN AND, LET'S BE HONEST, CERTAIN CANDIDATES AND CERTAIN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, A LOT OF THEATRICS, NOT NECESSARILY THE WORK PRODUCT.

TED: KEN, YOU ARE RUNNING AGAINST A LONGTIME CONGRESSMAN FOR ARIZONA GOVERNOR.

WHY ARE YOU DOING IT?

>> TED, I WANTED TO MAKE A FEW CHANGES.

I'M A BUSINESSMAN, NOT A POLITICIAN, AND WHAT I WANTED TO DO IS APPROACH THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

ONE IS THAT I HAVE PLANS.

I'VE MADE MANY OF PLANS.

I HAVE PLANS FOR VETERANS, PLANS FOR WATER.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS OUT THERE.

I HAVE PLANS FOR ENERGY TO RELIEVE GAS PRICES.

I HAVE ALL THESE PLANS THAT I PUBLISHED ON MY WEBSITE.

IF YOU GO TO VOTE KEN MICELI.COM, YOU WILL SEE IT IN DEPTH, NOT ONLY QUESTIONS BUT THE EXPLANATIONS.

TED: SCOTT, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?

>> I'M DOING IT BECAUSE I NEVER GIVE UP.

I MADE A DECISION TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN 2022, JUST LIKE RONALD REAGAN, JUST LIKE LINCOLN DID.

THEY RAN MANY TIMES BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY WON A SEAT IN OFFICE.

THEY MADE STRUCTURAL DIFFERENCES IN AMERICA, AND I WANT TO MAKE STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN ARIZONA FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ARIZONA.

I WANT TO PUT ARIZONA FIRST, THE NUMBER ONE BUSINESS FRIENDLY STATE IN AMERICA.

WE HAVE TO WORK ON TAX POLICY IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT POLICY.

IN ORDER TO GROW ARIZONA, WE HAVE TO FIX THE WATER PROBLEM OF ARIZONA, I'VE GOT A LOT OF PLANS FOR THAT AS WELL AS THE DESALINATION, TUCSON IS CREATING AMERICAN JOBBIS AND WANT TO DO ESAs FOR THE TRADES.

I WANT TO TAKE ESA MONEY AND APPLY IT TO TRAINING YOUTH IN THE TRADES BECAUSE THAT IS A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO RUN THE APS, TUCSON ELECTRIC POWER, NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE TO RUN THAT.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE RETIRING SOON.

WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE WORKFORCE.

TED: I WANT TO START WITH EDUCATION.

CONGRESSMAN, WHY ISN'T ARIZONA KNOWN AS THE EDUCATION STATE?

ARE WE SPENDING ENOUGH MONEY?

ARE WE FOCUSED ENOUGH ON EDUCATION?

>> I WOULD ACTUALLY SOMEWHAT DISAGREE WITH THE LABEL.

OUR EDUCATION CHOICES, OUR ESAS HERE ARE FAMOUS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THE NUMBER OF TIMES I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS IN D.C.

ABOUT HOW INNOVATIVE OUR EDUCATION IS.

I HAVE A THREE-YEAR-OLD AND TEN-YEAR-OLD WE'VE ADOPTED, AND I BELIEVE WE SEND OUR KIDS TO A CHARTER SCHOOL, NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL OR SPECIALTY SCHOOL, I WOULD ARGUE IS FAIRLY REVOLUTIONARY.

TED: THAT'S, AGAIN, DIFFERENT, THOUGH, FROM THIRD AND FOURTH GRADE READING.

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES.

WE ARE NOT KNOWN AS A BELLWETHER STATE FOR THOSE, WHY?

>> I ACTUALLY THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF A COUPLE TECHNICAL THINGS.

ONE IS OUR INBOUND MIGRATION, HOW OFTEN YOU HAVE A CHILD NEW TO THE DISTRICT, AND YOU'VE SEEN IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, HOW MANY OF THE CHILDREN THAT HAVE VERY POOR TEST SCORES ARE OFTEN INBOUND.

BUT I WOULD ARGUE ALSO, WE HAVEN'T FIXATED ON THE BASICS.

MY WIFE AND I CHOSE TO -- WE STARTED TO HOME SCHOOL OUR KIDS AND NOW HAVE THEM IN A CHARTER, BUT IT'S A MATH-SCIENCE CHARTER THAT TEACHES HANDWRITING.

HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY START TO FOCUS ON THE SKILL SETS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO PROGRESS IN SOCIETY?

TED: KEN, SHOULD WE BE KNOWN AS THE EDUCATION STATE?

ARE YOU PROUD OF EDUCATION AS IT IS RIGHT NOW IN ARIZONA?

>> WE HAVE A PLAN THAT WILL FIX A LOT OF THE EDUCATION ISSUES.

ONE PLAN IS BASICALLY CERTIFICATION FOR SCHOOLS TO GET YOU INTO A CERTIFIED POSITION OF AN AC REPAIRMAN, I PLUMBER, A WELDER.

THESE TYPES OF APPROACHES GET PEOPLE OUT IN THE WORKFORCE, AND ALSO HAVE PLAIN WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GET PAID TO GO TO THE SCHOOL AS WELL.

SO THEY GET OUT A TWO-YEAR CERTIFICATE, THEY'RE MAKING 60,000 TO $80,000 A YEAR, COMPARED TO WHAT IT COSTS TO GO TO UNIVERSITY.

TED: SCOTT?

>> THEY FIRST NEED TO LEARN HOW TO READ.

TED: WITH PEOPLE SPENDING IN ARIZONA IS AT OR NEAR THE BOTTOM, IS THAT A GOOD THING?

>> 60% OF OUR BUDGET IS EDUCATION ALREADY.

SO PART OF THE PROBLEM IS YOU HAVE TOO MANY ADMINISTRATORS IN EDUCATION.

FIVE VICE PRINCIPALS AT A HIGH SCHOOL.

RIDICULOUS.

WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL, UP UNTIL 2000, THERE WAS ONE VICE PRINCIPAL, NOW THERE'S FIVE.

TED: NOTE OF POINT, NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 12% FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS,A ARIZONA 10% ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

GOT TO BE MORE THAN THAT.

>> GOT TO BE MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE THERE IS DUPLICATES OF EVERYTHING.

TED: I MEAN THE REASON FOR ARIZONA'S EDUCATION SITUATION AS IT EXISTS HAS TO BE MORE THAN ADMINISTRATIVE SPENDING.

OTHER STATES ARE SPENDING MORE ON ADMINISTRATION?

>> THEY'RE NOT SPENDING ON THE TEACHERS, NOT GETTING AS MANY QUALITY TEACHERS.

WE NEED TO CUT OUT ADMINISTRATORS TO FUND TEACHERS.

SHUT DOWN ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDINGS TO OPEN UP MORE TUTORING CENTERS, NEED TO GET BACK TO PHONICS AND ARITHMETIC.

THAT IS NUMBER ONE, WE CAN'T DO ESA FOR THE TRADE IF THEY CAN'T READ AND DO MATH.

THEY CAN'T READ A TAPE MEASURE IF THEY CAN'T DO MATH.

THEY CAN'T READ THE PLANS.

I CAN'T MAKE THEM INTO TRADES PEOPLE IF THEY CAN'T READ FIRST.

>> TED, LOOK, THERE IS FASCINATING NUMBERS, WE HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE THE MOST MODERATE BUDGETS AND SOME OF THE VERY BEST TEST SCORES, AND THEY'RE DEMOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE, AND I HAVE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, LET'S BE HONEST, TUCSON UNIFIED.

WHERE THE DROPOUT RATES AND THOSE THINGS ARE HEART BREAKING AND IMMORAL.

ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A GOVERNOR THAT BASICALLY FIXATES ON WHY THAT DIFFERENTIAL AND WHAT CAN WE DO?

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DECLARE A SCHOOL DISTRICT AS A FAILED SCHOOL DISTRICT?

WHEN I WAS COUNTY TREASURER, I PUT TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS INTO RECEIVERSHIP BECAUSE OF FISCAL MISMANAGEMENT, MAYBE YOU CAN DO IT FOR ACDIGITAL MISMANAGEMENT.

TED: YOU MENTIONED ESAs, SHOULD THERE BE MORE GUARDRAILS ON THE PROGRAM?

>> YOU CAN MODEL A SIMPLE DATA SYSTEM SAYING THIS REIMBURSEMENT DOESN'T MATCH.

I COULD FIX IT FOR A FRACTION OF A FRACTION OF THE COST BECAUSE IF YOU ARE UNDER $2,000 ON REIMBURSEMENT, IT'S AUTOMATIC AND AUDITED LATER.

SIMPLE DATA CENTER IS AUDITTED IN THE BEGINNING.

>> THIS PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED SO MUCH, KUDOS OUT THERE TO 12 NEWS AND CRAIG HARRIS FOR DOING THE REPORTING ON THIS.

HE'S FINDING ALL SORTS OF WAYS THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN MISUSED.

WHY ISN'T THE STATE FINDING THIS OR DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT?

>> I WILL HAVE A FRAUD DIVISION TEAM DEDICATED TO EACH LINE ITEM.

ONE OF THE THINGS ---ING ABOUT IT BACK TO THE TRADE SCHOOLS.

THEY ARE SO NEEDED SO MUCH RIGHT NOW, AND PEOPLE -- I'VE TALKED TO SOME OF THE TOP CEOs IN THE COUNTRY, THEY WANT TO MOVE HERE TO ARIZONA IF I BECOME GOVERNOR, AND THEY WANT TO BRING JOBS, 50,000 TO 100000 JOBS, HIGH-PAYING JOBS AS SOMETHING WE NEED AND CONTINUE WITH.

THAT, I'LL BE ABLE TO CUT PROPERTY TAX IN HALF THE FIRST YEAR, AND THEN WAIVE PROPERTY TAX COMPLETELY THE SECOND YEAR.

TED: OKAY, BUT I WANT TO STICK WITH ESAs AND GUARDRAILS SHOULD.

THERE BE HOUSEHOLD INCOME GAP?

SHOULD A HOUSEHOLD OF $250,000 BE GETTING THIS MONEY?

>> HERE'S THE THING.

MY FATHER OWNED A BIG BUSINESS IN CALIFORNIA WHEN I WAS A KID, A BUILDING MATERIAL SUPPLY, HE OWNED THREE BUILDING AND MATERIAL SUPPLY YARDS BEFORE HOME DEPOT AND LOWE'S CAME IN.

I COULDN'T GET AFFORDABLE LOANS TO GO COLLEGE, I CHOSE NOT TO GO TO COLLEGE.

EVEN MY MOM'S INCOME WAS TOO HIGH, I COULDN'T USE HER INCOME.

IT WAS TOO HIGH.

SO BY CAPPING IT AT 150 BECAUSE A PARENT MAKES GREAT MONEY, YOU MIGHT BE DEPRIVING A CHILD SOMETHING THEY ACTUALLY NEED, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

TED: NOT REALLY.

IF THE HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS SUCH THAT YOU CAN AFFORD A PRIVATE SCHOOL WITHOUT STATE FUNDS.

>> YES, BUT PRIVATE SCHOOLS AREN'T TRADE SCHOOLS.

WHAT IF THEY ARE NOT ACADEMICS, THEY WANT TO GO TO A TRADE SCHOOL, THAT'S WHERE I'M LEANING TOWARDS.

>> NO INCOME CAP.

THE MATH IS THE MATH.

THE VOUCHER IS LESS THAN ATTENDANCE IN THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOL SYSTEM.

WHETHER IT BE A CHILD FROM A MORE PROSPEROUS FAMILY OR LESS PROSPEROUS FAMILY, THE MATH IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE AMOUNT OF CASH AVAILABLE HERE SHOULD GROW AS THE POPULATION OVER HERE, BUT, LOOK, THERE'S MORE GOING ON IN EDUCATION, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE MUCH MORE COMPLICATED AND TRICKY TO TALK ABOUT.

THERE'S MATH THAT SAYS NEXT YEAR ARIZONA WILL HAVE FEWER UNDER 18-YEAR-OLDS THAN WE HAD 20 YEARS AGO.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE SCHOOLS BEING SHUT DOWN?

YOU HAVE TOO MANY SCHOOL BUSES, TOO MANY ASSETS.

WE'RE ALSO UNDER COURT ORDER TO ACTUALLY DEAL WITH EQUALIZATION, AND IN THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS INTO THE NEXT YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO FINALLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.

SO DO YOU PUT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE?

YOU SAY WE HAVE TOO MANY SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

THIS SCHOOL IS HAVING TO SHUT DOWN CLASSROOMS.

OVER HERE, I HAVE THESE ASSETS.

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND ACTUALLY RELOOK AT EDUCATION FINANCING TOP TO BOTTOM.

TED: IS ESA PROGRAM ON THAT TABLE?

>> I'M A HUGE FAN OF ESAs.

TED: NO TOUCH, NO TOUCH.

>> MY DATA,YOU DON'T WANT TO BUILD AN ARMY OF LAWYERS AND AUDITORS BECAUSE A MODEL SENDS TO CHECK OUT AND HIRE SOMEONE TO CHASE IT DOWN AND PUT THE MONEY BACK AND PUT SOMEONE IN JAIL IS ABSURD, IT'S 1970s MODELING.

USE THE TECHNOLOGY SO THE CHECK NEVER GOES OUT THE DOOR.

TED: ARIZONA'S ECONOMY IS GROWING, DRIVE ACROSS TOWN, AND YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH ECONOMY.

ARE WE GROWING IN THE RIGHT WAYS?

>> WAGES ARE NOT GROWING, NOT GROWING EQUAL TO INFLATION.

MATTER OF FACT, MEAN INCOME IN ARIZONA NOW IS $1.50 PER HOUR LESS THAN THE ACTUAL AVERAGE.

WE'RE 45th IN AFFORDABILITY.

TED: WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

>> I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF A COUPLE THINGS.

FRONT PAGE OF THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL" COUPLE WEEKS AGO HAD A FAIRLY BIG STORY ABOUT WE WERE THE HOME OF BACK OFFICE, CALL CENTERS, BACK OFFICE COUNTING, THOSE ARE ALL CLOSING.

THEIR MATH SAID 15,000 OF THOSE WORKERS LOST THEIR JOBS.

SO IF THE ECONOMY DOES ROTATION TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY AND WORK, HAVE YOU ACTUALLY RECRUITED THE NEW ROTATION, THE NEW BUSINESSES THAT WILL ABSORB THESE WORKERS?

WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THAT.

TED: KEN, THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.

>> EXACTLY.

THERE'S BEEN APPROXIMATELY 80,000 NEW RESIDENTS LAST YEAR IN ARIZONA, AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO WITH THEM?

WE NEED TO GIVE THEM JOBS.

WE NEED TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING IN MEDICAL, SOMETHING WORKING IN A HOSPITAL, SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN REALLY BITE INTO AND MAKE A LIVING.

TED: INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THIS GROWTH, DO WE HAVE IT?

DO WE HAVE THE POWER?

DO WE HAVE THE WATER?

>> ARIZONA HAD SOME OF THE BIGGEST CONTRACTING COMPANIES IN THE NATION, AS FAR AS INFRASTRUCTURE GOES, WE CAN BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN ARIZONA.

WE DO NEED TO BUILD DESALINATION PLANTS.

THAT'S PART OF INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.

I PROPOSE WE BUILD THREE STRATEGIC NATIONAL BORDER GUARD BARRACKS, ONE IN YUMA, NOGALES, I PROPOSE PUTTING ARIZONA NATIONAL GUARD BORDER BARRACKS THERE TOO BECAUSE EVENTUALLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DEMOCRAT IN OFFICE.

WE'LL HAVE TO PROTECT OUR OWN BORDERS WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T CHOOSE TO AGAIN.

IT'S GOING TO COME UP.

TED: A LITTLE AFIELD HERE, AS FAR AS ENERGY, ARE WE CAPABLE OF THE GROWTH WE'RE SEEING?

WE CAN DEFINE GROWTH IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

DRIVE ACROSS TOWN.

THAT'S GROWTH.

GROWTH OF TSMC, THAT'S GROWTH.

ARE WE READY FOR IT?

ARE WE HANDLING IT IN THE RIGHT WAY?

>> MULTIPLE LEVELS.

TWO DAYS AGO I HAD TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY DUFFY HERE, WE HOSTED SERIES OF MEETINGS TRYING TO GET INTERSTATES HIGH OR THE PRIORITY, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE FUNDING SIDE IN WAYS AND MEANS, AND IT'S GOING TO BE COMPLICATED.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, OFTEN THE WAY WE BUILD, ARE WE USING THE BEST, FASTEST TECHNOLOGY, THE WAY WE'RE DOING PERMITTING.

LOTS OF VIDEOS ON HOW WE WANT TO CHANGE THE PERMITTING, BUT STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES OF WE'VE GOT TO STABILIZE OUR WATER SUPPLY AS ACCESS TO THE COLORADO RIVER BECOMES MORE STRESSED, HOW DO WE MANAGE INTERNALLY.

MY TEAM IS IN D.C.

WRITING LANGUAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT ACCESS TO RAISING BARTLETT LAKE'S DAM, MORE STORAGE.

POWER, I'M WORRIED ABOUT, BUT MORE THE BASE LOAD POWER.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A FAIRLY DIVERSE PORTFOLIO FOR ARIZONA, BUT WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY HAVE TO RAISE MORE BASE LOAD.

I LOVE THINGS LIKE I GOT SRP, THE PUMP STORAGE OF CANYON LAKE, THAT'S GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD.

YOU TURN WATER INTO A BATTERY, BUT GOT TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

>> WE'RE WAY BEHIND RUSSIA ON MICRONUCLEAR.

WE HAVE TONS OF SPENT RODS AT THE PALO VERDE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT THAT WE CAN TURN INTO PELLETS AND POWER THAT TO POWER THE NUCLEAR SYSTEMS.

THOSE CAN BE SET UP TO THE DATA CENTERS, WE SHOULD SET UP DESALINATION PLANTS AT THE DATA CENTERS AT A COST TO THEM.

WHEN THEY SUCK THE WATER IN FOR THE COOLING AND PUSH IT BACK OUT AND RECHARGE IT INTO THE GROUND, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T POLLUTE ARIZONA'S GROUND.

TED: KEN, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS?

>> WE'VE HAD MORE WATER, MORE SNOW THAN UTAH THIS LAST YEAR, AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO COMBINE A WAY -- TED: WHERE DID YOU GET THAT BY THE WAY?

>> WHERE?

IT'S PUBLIC.

IT'S PUBLIC.

TED: OKAY.

>> WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS FILTER THAT INTO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

SO THAT WE HAVE A RESERVE WITH THE AQUIFER.

TED: OKAY.

SCOTT MENTIONED IMMIGRATION, WE WANT TO TALK IMMIGRATION, AND TALK ABOUT THE DACA RECIPIENTS.

ONE CANDIDATE FOR STATE OFFICE IS PLEDGING THAT HE WILL DEPORT ALL UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS, HAVE THEM DEPORTED, PROSECUTED, GET THEM OUT OF HERE, DACA INCLUDED, YOU LIKE THAT IDEA?

>> IT MATHEMATICALLY DOESN'T WORK, AND ECONOMICALLY, IF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A YOUNG PERSON THAT WE'VE NOW PAID, WE'VE USED OUR RESOURCES TO PUT THROUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, EVEN UNIVERSITY, AND THEY'RE PAYING TAXES AND CONTRIBUTING, WE MAY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE PATH OF HOW WE KEEP THEM CONTRIBUTING.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR WAGE SUPPRESSION WE'VE HAD HERE, BACK TO THE BIDEN YEARS, WHERE THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF AMNESTY REQUESTS, AND WE BROUGHT IN SO MANY PEOPLE.

WE CAN SEE IN THE DATA OF THE LOWER, WHAT HELPS US, WHAT GROWS THE STATE, AND WHAT IS DRAGGING US DOWN.

TED: YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> LISTEN, MY SON-IN-LAW IS A DACA.

MY GRANDFATHER'S BABY IS DACA.

HE'S CONTRIBUTED TO SOCIETY ALL OF HIS LIFE, I DON'T BELIEVE HE SHOULD BE DEPORTED.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

IF YOU'RE HERE AND IN CONSTRUCTION, ABOUT 90% OF THE TRADE FORCE HAPPENS TO BE UNDOCUMENTED.

A SIMPLE MATHEMATICAL FACT.

IF WE DEVOTE THE ENTIRE WORKFORCE, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A DECADE TO SCALE THIS UP.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> THAT'S WHERE TRADE SCHOOLS COME.

IN HIS NUMBER IS A CORRECT NUMBER.

WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO AND CONCENTRATE.

GO BACK TO IMMIGRATION.

LOOK WHAT HAPPENED, WE WERE FLOODED WITH -- TED: WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH DACA RESIDENTS IN ARIZONA.

>> WITH WHAT?

TED: DACA RESIDENTS IN ARIZONA.

>> WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, THANK YOU.

TED: I GOT HIM ON THAT.

BEFORE WE GO NOW, I'M GOING TO ASK A QUESTION YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE QUITE AS MUCH.

WE'LL START WITH YOU.

HAS AN ELECTION IN ARIZONA BEEN RIGGED?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY RIGGED, BUT BEING ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS IN AMERICA, I'VE SEEN CRAZINESS.

THE GRANNY HARVESTING WE FOUND IN OUR NURSING HOMES.

THE FAKE LIBERTARIANS ON OUR BALLOT.

YOUR VISION IS AT BALLOT BOX OR WHOLE SERIES OF TRIGGERS AND THINGS THAT HAVE -- ARE EITHER ILLEGAL OR -- TED: ARE THEY CRIMINAL ACTIONS?

>> SOME OF THEM.

AND I'VE TAKEN THEM TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, AND I CANNOT SEEM TO GET DUE PROCESS.

TED: THE REPUBLICAN COUNTY ATTORNEY.

>> THE REPUBLICAN COUNTY ATTORNEY, AND EVEN "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC" DID MULTIPLE STORIES ON THE FAKE LIBERTARIANS WITH FAKE SIGNATURES PUT ON THE BALLOT.

YOU CAN UNDERSTAND MY LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION, WHEN YOU'VE BEEN IN A BRUTAL 50-50 DISTRICT ALL THESE YEARS WHERE YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR EVERY SINGLE VOTE.

TED: HAS AN ELECTION IN ARIZONA BEEN RIGGED TO THE POINT WHERE SOMEONE WHO SHOULD HAVE WON LOST?

AND I MEAN EVERYONE FROM THE PRESIDENT ON DOWN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TED: I WAS ASKING SCOTT, BUT YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD.

YOU THINK SO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THE NUMBERS AREN'T THERE.

>> WHAT'S THE EVIDENCE?

>> THE EVIDENCE, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY EVIDENCE OF A CORRECT, LAWFUL -- LAWFUL SERVICE THAT SHOWS THE VOTING ABILITY.

VOTING HERE, I'LL AGREE WITH WHOEVER WINS, IT'S GOT TO BE A LAWFUL WAY OF PRODUCING THOSE NUMBERS.

TED: SCOTT?

>> LISTEN, YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL, I FELT IN THE 2022 ELECTION THEY WERE RIGGING THE PRIMARY, KELLI WARD.

TED: WHO'S DOING IT?

>> AZ GOP, KELLI WARD, TURNING POINT, WORKING TOGETHER TO RIG IT FOR IT.

IT WAS A CLOSED PRIMARY.

I WASN'T CLOSED IN THE PRIMARY.

IS THAT FRAUD?

IS IT CRIMINAL?

NO, IT'S NOT FRAUD OR CRIMINAL, BUT DIFEEL THAT THE 2022 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY WAS NOT A FAIR ELECTION.

TED: NOT A FAIR ELECTION BUT NO CRIMINAL WRONGDOING, NO RIGGING, NO CHEATING BY ELECTION OFFICIALS?

>> I DIDN'T PERSONALLY SEE THE RIGGING OR THE CHEATING WHEN.

MACHINES WENT DOWN, I HAD QUESTIONS, I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS.

TED: YES OR NO, YOU SUPPORT WHOEVER WINS THE PRIMARY?

>> IF IT'S A LAWFUL APPROACH, YES, I WILL.

TED: OKAY, THAT'S A QUALIFIED ANSWER.

>> I'M A REPUBLICAN, ALWAYS VOTED REPUBLICAN.

I EVEN VOTED FOR KARI LAKE, DID NOT LIKE HER BUT VOTED FOR HER BECAUSE SHE WAS ON THE BALLOT FOR REPUBLICAN.

I WILL VOTE FOR WHOEVER WINS THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BECAUSE I WANT US TO WIN A GENERAL ELECTION.

>> I'M A REPUBLICAN GUY, I GREW UP SUPPORTING MY PARTY AND I WILL SUPPORT MY PARTY.

TED: TIME NOW FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS AND GOING IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, WE START WITH KEN MICELI.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND BY THE WAY, GREAT MEETING YOU.

TED: NICE MEETING YOU AS WELL.

>> YOU CAN TELL YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS A LITTLE WHILE.

TED: YES, I HAVE.

>> MY APPROACH TO ARIZONA IS GOING TO BE AS A BUSINESSMAN, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ACCOUNTED FOR ON EVERY LINE ITEM.

MY TEAM FOR FRAUD WILL BE LOOKING AT EVERY LITTLE LINE ITEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WASTE THAT WE DISCOVER WILL BE USED BACK INTO OUR SYSTEM AND TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND TO THE HOSPITALS AND TO WHATEVER WE NEED THAT WE'VE BEEN MISSING.

SO I'M HERE TO HELP THE PEOPLE.

I WANT TO DO THIS FOR THE PEOPLE, AND SO THAT'S MY MISSION, QUITE FRANKLY.

TED: ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT CLOSING STATEMENT.

NOW THE CLOSING STATEMENT FROM SCOTT NEELY.

>> I'M SCOTT NEELY, CANDIDATE FOR ARIZONA GOVERNOR, YOU CAN FIND OUT ABOUT ME AT NEELY FOR GOVERNOR.COM.

I'M A MAN OF THE PEOPLE.

WE TALK ABOUT ELECTABILITY.

PEOPLE SAY, WELL, YOU'RE NOT ELECTABLE.

YOU DON'T HAVE NAME I.D.

AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

HERE'S THE THING.

THE BIG FILES POSTED ON MY WEBSITE, NEELY FOR GOVERNOR.COM, IN THE BIG FILES IT'S VERY TELLING, IN 11 DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, BIGGS VOTED IN FAVOR OF ESSENTIALLY PROTECTING PEDOPHILES AND SEXUAL ABUSERS AND HE VOTED NOT TO DECERTIFY THE COLORADO CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHO WERE PROTECTING PEDOPHILIC PEOPLE IN THE FLDS COMMUNITY ABOUT A DECADE AGO.

MICHELLE UGENTI-RITA BROUGHT A BILL TO SENATE COMMITTEE, HE DID NOT WANT TO DECERTIFY THE POLICE.

AND THE POLICE WERE NOT PROTECTING THOSE CHILDREN, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROTECTED THE CHILDREN, AND EVENTUALLY THE CHILDREN WERE MADE SAFE, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS BIGGS DID NOT PROTECT THE CHILDREN IN COLORADO CITY.

TED: WE HAVE TO STOP YOU RIGHT THERE.

NOW CLOSING STATEMENT FROM CONGRESSMAN DAVID SCHWEIKERT.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

LOOK, ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT ARIZONA?

IS ARIZONA GOING TO BECOME CALIFORNIA?

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE REALITY THAT IS UNCOMFORTABLE TO FELLOW REPUBLICANS.

WE LOST THE SENIOR SENATOR, THE JUNIOR SENATOR, THE SECRETARY OF STATE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE GOVERNOR.

THE ONE THING I BRING YOU IS I HAVE WON IN THE BRUTAL DISTRICT OVER AND OVER.

I'M TOLD I'M THE DEMOCRATS' MOST EXPENSIVE LOSS OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS, IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

WHAT MR.

NEELY WAS JUST SHARING, THE DEMOCRATS KNOW, THERE IS NO PATH FOR ANDY BIGGS TO BECOME THE GOVERNOR, AND I SAT THROUGH A FOCUS GROUP WHERE WHEN THEY TALKED ABOUT THESE THINGS, YOU COULD SEE HIS NUMBERS ABSOLUTELY COLLAPSE.

PLEASE, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT ME, IF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE IDEAS, TAKE THIS DOWN, WRITE THIS DOWN, 602-619-3330.

THAT'S ACTUALLY MY PERSONAL CELL NUMBER.

TED: ALL RIGHT, GENTLEMEN, CANDIDATES, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.