Eric Stafford
DemocraticQ1 What advisory mechanisms will you implement to ensure that evidence and scientific findings play a crucial role in your policymaking process?
I will take advice from trusted and qualified organizations that are legitimate, and have no obvious incentives to enrich themselves over the will of the people. I will refuse to accept any financial incentives and will do the job from a purely fact based and ethical people-first system.
Q2 What initiatives will you take to support investment in innovation via federal science funding?
I support expansions to stem programs, and technical schools. Affordable continuing ed for adults is a must and all Americans want to be educated and feel competent, so it would be amazing to enrich education from K-12 and beyond. I am not an incumbent and have gaps in knowledge and am open to further education on these matters.
Q3 Arizona faces many environmental issues, including extreme heat, mining extraction waste, and water scarcity, especially with the rise of AI data centers. What strategies, if any, do you support to tackle these issues?
Moratoriums on data centers, updating water policy to limit overuse and prioritize living over individual recreational or decorative water features in the event of emergency, also protecting water to preserve aquifers, and fight for a solar based future in our sunny state.
Q4 Arizona saw the second-largest measles outbreak in the nation last November. Do you have any plans or support any policies to prevent future public health outbreaks?
I am running against the #1 anti-vaxxer in the state and am a strong advocate from my experience in Veterinary medicine and medical assisting. I support evidence based policy for public health over this current situation.
Q5 Arizona youth regularly use social media. Given that social media profiles may spread information about science and policy matters, do you support any policies that regulate these platforms for younger audiences?
Yes, these platforms have no real accountability and are too big and unregulated for the amount of negative repercussions on our society. We must protect kids and help expand public broadcasting to ensure a stream of legit, no-corporate knowledge.
Q6 According to Consumer Affairs and the National Education Association (NEA), Arizona is ranked last in public school education and has the lowest high school graduation rate in the nation. Arizona is also one of the US states with the least funding put into public schools. What are your opinions on the current state of public school funding in Arizona, and how do you view the role of science in K-12 education?
End the vouchers, and increase revenue so we can get this ship back on track. We should be aspiring to #1 not #50 and we will not sit quietly while this happens.