Pullen for the Party

A Special Fourth of July Message

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the more than one million Arizona Republicans, I’m especially honored to wish you and yours a very happy Independence Day!

President Abraham Lincoln, father of the Republican Party, was one of the most masterful writers and speakers of not only his generation but of all of American history. In a speech he gave in Edwardsville, Indiana in September of 1858, he spoke of the roots and foundation of America’s independence as well as any statesman has. He said:

“What constitutes the bulwark of our own liberty and independence? It is not our frowning battlements, our bristling sea coasts, our army and our navy. These are not our reliance against tyranny. . . Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in us. Our defense is in the spirit which prized liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit and you have planted the seeds of despotism at your own doors. Familiarize yourselves with the chains of bondage and you prepare your own limbs to wear them. Accustomed to trample on the rights of others, you have lost the genius of your own independence and become the fit subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises among you.”

Today, we are again in a struggle for our independence. This time, the tyranny we face comes not from across an ocean, but from within our own nation.

I cannot put it any more simply than this: government is broken. On this Independence Day, let us celebrate the herculean achievements of our forefathers, but then let us not allow them to have been in vain. As Arizona Republicans, let us unite around those candidates who can and will help us build a better system to create a better future for our children… a future in which they are independent and free, not just from foreign oppression, but of the growing debt of both national and state governments who cannot and will not live within their means.

On the one hand is a Democrat Party committed to increasing taxes, increasing the size of government, increasing the role of the elites and the establishment, increasing the power of unions, expanding the role and the reach of our bureaucracies, and making a system that functions for the lawyers and not for the people. Government has been allowed to become what we have always feared: a system that serves itself rather than the people.

On the other hand is our Arizona Republican Party, listening to the people, working to create real solutions to real problems. We cannot do it without your support. The choices could not be clearer… nor more important.

In your service,

RANDY

"Who Will Teach Our Children?"

Last week, I participated in the 92nd Arizona Town Hall. For those of you who may not be familiar with this organization, Arizona Town Hall is a private, nonprofit civic organization created 46 years ago, which brings together civic and business leaders from around the state and country twice a year for the purpose of analyzing and addressing the state’s economic, cultural and social issues.

This most recent Town Hall focused on the current and future problems with Arizona’s education system. The provocative title for the conclave was "Who Will Teach Our Children?" The 190 attendees were made up heavily of public school teachers and administrators, public school board members, university faculty and administrators, union representatives, a few civic leaders and business leaders and one lone Arizona Republican Party official, yours truly.

While the majority of those in attendance were on the opposite side of the ideological spectrum from me, this did not stop us from having a quality and in-depth conversation about the challenges facing our children, parents, teachers, our state and country. Almost everyone in attendance agreed that our state and national public education systems are not adequately preparing our children to compete in the global economy.

Twenty-six years ago, a blue ribbon committee on education appointed by President Reagan delivered the seminal report “A Nation at Risk”. This report in part stated, "Our Nation is at risk. The educational foundations of our society are presently being eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our very future as a Nation and a people." This was a clear call to arms. Our education system was underperforming when compared to many other industrialized countries around the world. We risked falling behind if we did not act immediately to reverse this trend. Of course, anyone familiar with the political process in our country understood where this would lead.

Over the next quarter of a century, unprecedented amounts of money were thrown at the problem. Spending on education in terms of inflation adjusted dollars more than doubled in the time period. In the same time frame, national test scores and high school drop out rates did not improve. Policy makers from around the country suddenly realized that our efforts over the years had yielded precious little in comparison to the amount of wealth and brain power that had been poured into solving this national crisis.

The apparent failure to improve our educational system has been well documented by several recent publications including, Educational Myths by Jay P, Greene, 2005; Tough Choices Tough Times, by The National Center on Education and the Economy, 2006; and How the World’s Best-Performing School Systems Come out on Top, by McKinsey and Company, 2007.

The graph (found on slide 14 here) from the Tough Choices Tough Times power point summarizing their report says it all.

The gains students have made in the U.S. on NAEP Scale Scores are insignificant when compared to the increase in total expenditures per pupil. For example, in 1971 the average per pupil expenditure was $3,400 and the average 4th-Grade reading score on the NAEP test was 208. In 1990 the average per pupil expenditure was $6,800 and the test score average was 209. In 2002, it was $8,997 and 217, respectively. This represents an increase in expenditures of almost 300 percent with a corresponding improvement in test scores of just over 4 percent. Not the kind of return on investments that would make Wall Street analysts enthusiastic and glowing in support of our educational system. Dismal performance of this scale in the private sector would result in immediate action by shareholders long before this time. But it gets worse. P Trends in Academic

Not only are other countries around the world spending less per pupil to educate their students, but over the course of the past 40 years they have made large gains in the percentage students graduating from high school as well as test scores when compared to students in the United States. During the 1960’s in the U.S., roughly 85% of working-age adults had completed high school. Compare this number to Korea, which in the 1960’s only had about 35% of its working-age adults with high school educations. Now, spring forward forty years and the United States is at roughly 90% and has been stuck there for thirty years, while Korea and many other nations made significant progress over the past 40 years and have surpassed us.

This picture is painted (found on slide 12 here) in even grimmer detail by the following numbers. For every 100 9th graders: 68 will graduate on time; of those 68, 40 will enroll directly in college; of those 40, 27 are still enrolled the following year; and of those 27, 18 earn Associates Degree within 3 years or a B.A. within 6 years. The simple fact of the matter is the United States has made little gains in education over the past 40 years, and many of the world’s countries with which we compete are not only catching us, but passing us.

With these sobering facts along with many others so elegantly and powerfully presented by Mark Tucker, author of Tough Choices Tough Times, to the Town Hall participants assembled for dinner on the opening day, we got down to business. Next time, I will focus on some of the paradigm shifting conclusions and solutions reached in the Town Hall by its participants regarding how to fundamentally restructure public schools in Arizona and our nation in order to make our children competitive in a global economy. There is little time left to waste as we have squandered much of our competitive advantage.

Chairman Pullen's response to Sen. Obama's "Race Speech"

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Equality is a cornerstone of our democracy. It has been at the forefront of political and social debate since our founding fathers, mothers, sons and daughters committed high treason and sought to end the King of England’s tyranny over the thirteen colonies. It is tragic the men who gathered in Philadelphia in 1787 to draft our Constitution could not come up with an end to slavery.

Many years later, a group of like-minded, freedom-loving people gathered “Under the Oaks” just outside of Jackson, Michigan. These people shared a common belief that slavery in the United States must end. It was July 6, 1854 when these individuals met to form the Republican Party. Committed to equality and justice for all, this group ascended the steep hill of national politics quickly winning many elections the following November and had its crowning moment with the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States in 1860. Lincoln, of course, abolished slavery in the United States.

Today, sadly, the Democrat presidential primary has turned into a battle of race, class and gender warfare. Nowhere is this better illustrated than yesterday’s speech by Senator Obama in Philadelphia, where he said, “But race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now.” This statement is a direct contradiction to the message he has put forth heretofore in his presidential campaign. Senator Obama has made his candidacy and this presidential contest about race, which he claimed he would not do. Senator Obama needs to choose a side in this debate. Is he the candidate of “race matters”, or will he be the candidate of unity and hope, looking beyond race as well as class and gender?

It may be Senator Obama does not know the answer to this question. It is fair, however, to say, time will tell.

It is important for all Americans to move beyond race. As our founders said and believed, we are all created equal. Republicans believe in the inherent natural strength in each and every individual. The Republican Party, was founded by anti-slavery leaders. Republicans have been on the front lines of the social and cultural changes throughout American history. The first woman elected to serve in the Congress was Jeanette Rankin of Montana in 1916. A Republican, she also was a leader of the Woman’s Suffrage movement throughout the United States and continued her work in the U.S. House when elected.

If we are to move fully beyond race we must break the flawed system of classification, which currently exists. The original intent and spirit of Affirmative Action and civil rights legislation is honorable. Sadly, the outcome has proved the inherent flaw of the system: it mandates we divide our own society. Rather than being “American first,” there exist qualifiers which people feel necessary to use to designate each other: Spanish-American, African-American, Asian-American, etc…

First and foremost, we are human beings. Let us as Americans, the freest nation on earth, work together to create stronger communities and neighborhoods for our children. Now is the time.

As Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican President said, “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” Our responsibility today is to work to create a stronger, more secure America for future generations. I suggest we start by removing the chains of race which have divided our country for too long and begin anew without classifications and with a spirit of equality never before seen in this world’s history.

The campaigns of Senators Obama and Clinton have not helped to heal America’s racial divide. They have reopened many old wounds while creating new ones. In doing so they have revealed themselves and their party for whom they truly are: Democrats who look to profit from America’s racial woes rather than solving them.

Pullen: Six Years in Review

For six years, Democrat New York Governor Eliot Spitzer has engaged in the act of cheating on his wife, lying to voters and breaking the law by paying for sex with prostitutes, and in at least one case, transporting a sex professional across state lines.

For five years, Governor Napolitano has broken the state’s budget and busted the bank rewarding contract after contract and job after job to her friends and political allies despite their record of ineptitude and negligence – just look at their record of success at Arizona’s veteran’s home and Child Protective Services, for starters.

For four years, we have worked to get our state’s immigration and border laws enforced, but Governor Napolitano and Attorney General Terry Goddard don’t seem to think the law matters in Arizona.

For the three years, I was honored to serve Arizona as a National Committeeman on the Republican National Committee, and during this time we have made it the official policy of this great Party to enforce the rule of law first and foremost when it comes to such things as securing our borders and pulling investments out of terrorist nations like Iran.

For two years, Democrats have had control of the U.S. Congress and have become the most corrupt leaders in history, promoting and rewarding Members caught with federal sting money hidden in their freezers and blocking commonsense earmark reform aimed at removing special interests from politics once and for all.

And for the last year, I have had the honor to serve as Chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, during which time we have not only tried in vain to hold Democrats’ feet to the fire to end the culture of corruption which has come to dominate our national political landscape, but we’ve also been tough on our own elected officials who have even been suspected of breaking the public’s trust.

The fact that Democrat Governor Napolitano hasn’t called on fellow Democrat Governor Eliot Spitzer to resign despite Mr. Spitzer having stood at a podium and admitted his guilt shows how broken the system has become and how tolerant the Democrats have become of corruption in their own ranks. If this were a Republican they would wail like banshees, but since it’s one of their own, they’re dead silent.

Arizona voters deserve better and we in the Arizona Republican Party will continue to offer real solutions, real ideas and real hope for the future. Our promises aren’t empty and our vision doesn’t extend just to the next Election Day.

And, yes, Governor Spitzer, aka Mr. Clean, should resign.

Pullen: "To do our job, we must unite."

Statement from Chairman Pullen to Maricopa EGC

Phoenix, AZ—Executive Director Sean McCaffrey read the following statement to the members of the Maricopa County Republican Committee’s Executive Guidance Committee on behalf of Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen, who was in Washington, DC to support our nominee at the C-PAC conference.

“In 270 days, voters from Arizona and across America will elect a new president. With Governor Romney’s decision to withdraw from the presidential race, our party’s nominee will be our own Arizona US Senator John McCain. Let me state once again, our Republican nominee for president will be Arizona US Senator John McCain. His opponent on in November will be either Senator Hillary Clinton or Senator Barack Obama. Over the next 270 days, the better part of half a billion dollars will be spent by both sides determining our next president.

“Over the next four years, the federal government will collect and spend more than thirteen trillion of our tax dollars. Tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of American soldiers will be deployed around the world, many of them directly in harm’s way. Who would we rather trust with the paychecks we earn or with the lives of our sons and daughters: Senator John McCain, or the winner of the Clinton-Obama primary?

“Some in Arizona have had differences with Senator McCain. Every family has differences among its members. We cannot be a strong family, however, if we don’t unite at the end of the day. Republicans have a tremendous advantage going into November knowing our nominee perhaps months ahead of the Democrats. We can’t let that slip away by focusing on our past differences when we can unite around our many similarities.

“My friends, we have a much better hope of continuing our work to reduce taxes, reduce wasteful spending, protect our nation, support our troops, improve schools, fix our health care system, reform entitlements, and address the issues we care about with a Republican president than a Democrat president determined to work against us aligned with a Democrat Congress determined to work against us.

“Our job as a political party is specifically to elect Republicans to office. That is why the Republican Party was first created and it remains our singular mission today. To do our job, we must unite. From the court house to the state house to the White House, to do our job we must unite. Though I cannot be with you tonight, I ask you to join me in putting past differences behind us and turning our full attention to the future and these 270 days which will fly by so quickly we’ll soon wonder where the time has gone.

“Our opponents, who seek to divide us, want to take control of the legislature. They want to deprive us of the opportunity to win back CD5 and CD8. They want to steal CD1 away from the Republican column. And they honestly believe they can be competitive in CD3 against John Shadegg. If we are united and focused, they cannot be successful, and 2008 will be a year of true Republican resurgence in our state. Thank you and God bless.”

Mackinac Wrap-Up

This past weekend, I had the honor to attend the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference held at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island at the tip of northern Michigan. It was the largest conference they have had in thirty years with over 1,500 diehard Republicans in attendance to hear from our Republican presidential candidates.

The conference is an opportunity for the party faithful to get together and listen to speeches, attend workshops, and share ideas. While the press is in attendance at this conference, their access to candidates, receptions and what they can report is limited. This gives our candidates the opportunity to speak more candidly and off the cuff.

Conference attendees were able to see and hear from Rudy Giuliani, Duncan Hunter, Mitt Romney, John McCain, Ron Paul and Fred Thompson. Also, Newt Gingrich gave a one hour workshop on American Solutions.

All of the presidential candidates gave great and passionate speeches. Mayor Giuliani was first to speak on Friday night and focused on Islamic terrorism as well as comparing and contrasting Republican ideas with those of the Democrats ideas. He spoke of his success in turning New York City around, balancing the budget, cutting taxes and making it the safest large city in the county. He also spoke confidently of his assessment that he was the best candidate and the only one who could be competitive in all 50 states with the Democrats.

The final speaker of the conference on Saturday night was Senator McCain. He definitely received the loudest applause as he dealt exclusively with the Islamic terrorists and the war in Iraq. He spoke from the heart with passion and brought the crowd to its feet when he admonished Columbia University for inviting Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad.

In between, we heard Governor Romney speak about how we need to be Republicans for change. His messaged focused on how Republicans solve problems by being creative, open to new ideas and taking risks. We can secure our borders and solve the healthcare crisis without creating a new government bureaucracy.

Senator Thompson’s message was focused on his background and experienced and why he was qualified and ready to lead the country. He also talked extensively about why the GOP is far better than the Democrats.

Overall, it was a very positive experience and the overwhelming consensus was that Republican ideas are still the best ideas for America, but as Governor Romney said, “when Republicans act like Democrats, America loses.”

RANDY

AZGOP STATEMENT ON NOMINATION OF JUDGE MICHAEL MUKASEY

PHOENIX, AZ – Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen released the following statement today on President Bush’s nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey to the post of United States Attorney General:

“I commend President Bush’s selection of Judge Michael Mukasey to the post of United States Attorney General. I think one would be hard pressed to find a more honorable, knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated person to serve in this vitally important position.

“It is my sincere hope that Judge Mukasey is swiftly confirmed by the Senate and allowed to take charge at the Justice Department in a timely manner.”

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT - PULLEN TO MITCHELL: "DESERT IS NO PLACE FOR A TRAINED SEAL"

PHOENIX, AZ – “Harry Mitchell has proven to be little more than Nancy Pelosi’s trained seal,” said Randy Pullen, chairman of the Arizona Republican Party at a press conference yesterday, drawing attention to Harry Mitchell’s (D-Tempe) flipped flopped vote on the floor of the House of Representatives causing mass chaos.

Mitchell initially voted with Republicans to send the Agriculture bill back to committee on August 2, 2007 because of the provisions in the bill allowing federal funds for the employment and housing of illegal immigrants. However, when it was clear that the Republicans were on the verge of victory, Mitchell suddenly switched his vote, sending the chamber into political upheaval.

Standing at a podium, with the Arizona Republican Party seal prominently displayed, Pullen made his comments with an oversized picture of Harry Mitchell to his right with the caption “November 2006,” an oversized photo of a seal balancing a ball its nose on his left with the caption “August 2007,” and a banner with the words, “Because the Desert is no place for a Trained Seal,” behind him.

Pullen went on to describe several of Mitchell’s votes in Congress including his vote to strip away workers privacy rights in the union formation process, his multiple votes to surrender in Iraq, and his support of egregious pork barrel spending.

“Mitchell has clearly demonstrated that he is out of touch with his constituents and the people of Arizona. Ninety percent of the time, Harry Mitchell votes with San Francisco liberal Nancy Pelosi – and against his Arizona district. Ninety percent of the time, Harry Mitchell puts politics ahead of his own campaign promises. This isn’t the same Harry Mitchell I’ve known in the past.”

Yesterday, Mitchell’s spokesman responded, “Nobody in Democratic leadership ever talked to the congressman, period.” [link]

Pullen rejected this assertion from Mitchell’s office. “Either Mr. Mitchell is a trained seal and voted against his Arizona constituents because Nancy Pelosi asked him to, or Mr. Mitchell did it because he instinctively puts the political games of his Democrat Party leaders ahead of the jobs and futures of Arizona farmers without even giving it a second thought. You tell me which is worse. Either way, the vote was wrong – but it’s certainly being rewarded because next week Speaker Nancy Pelosi herself is coming to raise money for Mr. Mitchell’s re-election. Six months of party-line votes and he got his fundraiser with the Speaker. Congratulations, Mr. Mitchell, it’s clear you’ve earned it,” Pullen said.

The YouTube video of last Thursday’s House debacle can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y08iTaGcm0. For more information, please contact Brett Mecum at 602.957.7770 or at bmecum@azgop.org.

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Why I am a Republican - Part 2

by Randy Pullen

My fellow Arizonans, my fellow Americans, I believe our state and our nation stand today at a crossroads in history. The rhetoric in the media of recent years describes us as a politically divided nation, almost equal in number of Republicans and Democrats, with our party nominees (and in fact our parties themselves) competing for those few undecided voters remaining in the middle.

Today I reject that notion because two very important things have happened.

First, our next generation of Republican leadership from city halls to court houses to state houses to the White House has largely united in one voice behind our belief in both America and the American people. We have shown our faith in the American dream for all, and we are putting forth real, common-sense ideas on how to transform those dreams into reality.

Though our Democrat opponents and many of our liberal friends in the media often ballyhoo when Republicans disagree, this much is true: today’s Republican Party has refocused itself as the party of ideas and courage, and as the party of a bright future for Arizona and for America.

Here in Arizona, our leaders have said with unwavering resolve that it is no longer acceptable for our state’s brave veterans to suffer under a system of neglect and incompetence. We have not just exposed the wrongs of our government but are busy crafting solutions to protect our veterans and honor their past service.

Our Republican leaders have identified the failings of our state’s bureaucracy charged with protecting our most vulnerable children. We have confronted an unwieldy and defensive bureaucracy and demanded accountability and change – which now seems clear will come because of the resolve of our Republican lawmakers here in Arizona.

We have, and continue to, reach out to community leaders and business organizations to seek real-world ideas and innovative means with which to further spur Arizona’s economy to create new jobs, new opportunities and new futures for families in every county and corner of our state. We confront head-on the environmental challenges of water, effective land use, and responsible growth to protect the natural wonders of our state and the quality of life of our neighbors and friends.

And our Republican elected officials at the local and state level are leaders in education, seeking to transform our schools to places of true learning where the hopes and dreams of children may be nurtured. Arizona is a leader in education innovation with charter schools, performance testing, and tax credits; all Republican ideas. Each step we take for education reform promises a brighter future not just for our state, but for each individual child whom we are determined to serve as if he or she were our own.

Our Republican leaders today do these things not simply because of the jobs they have been elected to, or the oaths of office they have taken, but because of the tremendous dedication they have for the positions they have been elected to hold and the commitment they share to the people they serve. They are men and women with ideas working closely with doctors and teachers, parents and small businesspeople, senior citizens, veterans, families and individuals from every walk of life in a great partnership toward a stronger Arizona.

Second, I reject the equally divided notion put forth because of the direction taken by today’s Democrat Party. Special interests and 15-second sound bytes now take precedent over governing, where politics impedes progress at almost every turn for Democrats.

A recent Gallup Poll showed the Democrat majority in Congress has now driven public confidence in Congress to an all-time low of just 14-percent – lower than before Republicans wrested Congress from the Democrats in 1994 and lower than during the Watergate era. One would have to go back to the Continental Congress in 1780 to find a lower confidence level.

Today, the Democrats in Congress have no charismatic president to lead them off on quixotic journeys into misguided domestic policy. Today, they have achieved their 14-percent approval rating all by themselves. Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi proudly negotiates with state-sponsors of terrorism, placing in jeopardy not only Israel (our closest democratic ally in the region), but undermining nearly single handedly America’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East in our crusade to stamp our terror. Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid routinely declares that America has lost it’s war against terror in Iraq, giving aid and comfort to the enemy while our brave men and women in uniform fight to protect a fledgling democracy from brutal Islamic fascists and keep their reach from extending to America’s shores once again.

The new Democrat Congress has already called for the largest tax hike in American history, has broken it’s promise on ending the secrecy behind the practice of spending billions of dollars on “earmarked” pork-barrel projects, is set to repeal the Bush tax cuts (that have spurred strong economic growth for six years), have broken their promise to address skyrocketing gas prices, and are set to introduce massive new tax hikes that will reduce investment and cost thousands upon thousands of jobs across America.

While Republicans have learned the lessons of mistakes made in the majority (and, mind you, there were many, many victories and achievements to be proud of, as well), Democrats have reaffirmed their allegiance to the Liberal Left. Not only in matters of Iraq and the war on terror, but in domestic and economic policy, as well. Those who bought and paid for their campaigns and election efforts in 2006 are being handsomely rewarded – only it isn’t the American people, it’s the liberal special interests, which will ultimately reap the benefits.

The Democrat leaders in Congress are banking their entire political fortunes on the defeat of their own nation, and the Democrat candidates for President have become pessimistic naysayers with poll-tested scripts and no original ideas. Republicans, on the other hand, continue to show why we are the party of ideas and principles. We offer better choices to a greater number of voters – a majority of whom we believe will find a home within our ranks.

MR. PULLEN GOES TO NEW YORK

AZGOP chief addresses “Monday Meeting” in New York City

NEW YORK, NY – Randy Pullen, chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, brought the fight to win back Congressional District 5 and Congressional District 8 to New York as he told major donors and contributors of the Republican Party that now is the time to start funding efforts to retake Congress in 2008.

To the crowd of more than 100 businessman and women of “The Monday Meeting,” Pullen said, “Tonight, I am reaffirming the Republican Party’s commitment to the business community. Because of you, America is the greatest nation in the world, and through your efforts we serve as a beacon of hope, liberty, and prosperity across the globe.”

Pullen continued, “The battle to retake the House of Representatives starts in Arizona. We have two of the ten top targeted seats ripe for pickup. We are already interviewing and screening candidates and gearing up our election operations. Together, with your help, we can fight and win back Congress and put far more responsible people in charge in 2008.”

The Monday Meeting was founded by Mallory Factor and James Higgins in February of 2002 and has grown rapidly over the past five years. The Monday Meeting is the premier forum of political discussion for the center-right coalition in the New York area. Regular participants in The Monday Meeting include major donors to candidates and causes, leaders in the Republican Party and the Conservative Movement, media, authors, representatives of think tanks, political clubs, and public policy groups. The Monday Meeting takes place once a month from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM in midtown Manhattan and attendance is by invitation only.

For more information contact, Brett Mecum at 602.957.7770

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