Arizona State Senate District 6 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Arizona, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Arizona State Senate District 6 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

• Click here to see candidates and election results.
• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Arizona State Senate District 6

Incumbent Theresa Hatathlie defeated Richard King in the general election for Arizona State Senate District 6 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Theresa Hatathlie (D)	94.8	58,830
		Richard King (R) (Write-in)	5.2	3,199

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 62,029
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jeff Daniels (L)

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Richard King (R)

With the Democratic party just allowing the people and drugs to come across our borders, I am here to work on Securing our Borders. Bring it back to how President Trump had it. Finish the wall and allow legal process for people to come to the US. We are being overrun by drugs that is killing the American people and we need to stop it. I will work to get that done and secure our borders.

With this big push of CRT being pushed out onto our children at their schools, I will work with our local government and other Senators to ensure that this doesn't get into our schools in Arizona. We need to bring our rights as parents back to us in regards to what is being taught with your children. With this being in place, I will fight to keep our children safe by pushing for a bill to put safety officers at each school facility or a former/ retired officer and or military personal.

Keep a strong Police force and supporting them in additional funding to provide them the training they need and equipment they need to help keep us all safe. A long with this I will fight and stand up for our second amendment rights as I feel very strongly that this right should never be taken away from us.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Richard King (R)

I am very passionate about our 2nd Amendment rights. This is under attack by the Democrat party. They want to take our rights and they will stop at nothing to do so. By electing me Rich King. I will fight for our rights and not allow them to pass through any bills that will infringe on our rights. There is so much going on in our country today that we need to elect more republicans that will fight for the people. I am not here to gain anything from this, I am here because I love my country and I have to do something about it.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Richard King (R)

When growing up, I looked up to a few people in life. Since I loved watching Bonanza and Hoss Cartwright was a person who at the time I looked up to. I love his persona, his calm nature, how he treated people and how he stood up when he had to for his loved ones. In the current state I still keep my values like him, but President Trump is someone who I have looked up to as how he runs a business and how he gets things done. Him and his children are very business savvy bu watching how they work has help me in my own professional career.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Richard King (R)

1. Knowing that they are here for their constituent not for political gains.

2. Not in it for gain financials gains and going with companies and or organizations that buy you out.

3. Willing to work with other Senators to challenge them to stay do what their constituents needs are.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Richard King (R)

1. One I am easy to get along with.

2. I fight for what best for my team (in this case my constituents.) 3. I have a great personality. 4. I do not let people intimidate me so they can get what they want.

5. I am always going to do what's right for the American people

What legacy would you like to leave?

Richard King (R)

My goal is to leave one that say Rich King impacted our country by standing up for what is right and what needs to be done for the American people. He was not one who gave in for money or for political power. He sure wasn't a push over.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Richard King (R)

I was 13 years old when I accepted god as my savior and I accepted him into my heart. I have been blessed ever since I did this.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Richard King (R)

My very first job was many years ago. I worked at a Mobile gas station as a pump attendant pumping gas for people. I was only there for a short period of time as I got a job that I really wanted while I was in high school which was In-n-Out Burger. I worked there on and off for 3 years. One of the best jobs I had where I learn how to work hard and efficient and most importantly, is where I learned great customer service.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Richard King (R)

Brightside by Mark Tullius. It was a very interesting read about people being able to read other minds and the government moved all of these people to an Island where they cannot affect other.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Richard King (R)

I would want to be a Sheriff in the 1800's

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Richard King (R)

I love this bar by Toby Keith

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Richard King (R)

To be honest here it is getting my kids to do something without asking them multiple times. I sure wish they can just get up and do it.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Richard King (R)

Our greatest challenge today are many things. See below:

1. Bring down the inflation rate. It is out of control right now and no one has a plan to pull us out of it. 2. Boarder security - To many drugs and people coming to the US and being release out to states. We need to board this up to stop this from happening. The drugs alone is killing hundreds of thousand Americans and this needs to be stopped. 3. The brain washing of our children. - I am shocked to see and hear that our schools in this country is teaching our childing things that the parents should be teaching them. The schools are not made to brainwash our children they are to teach them Math, Science, history, how to read and write. 4. Stop other politicians in infringing on our rights. From lock downs, wearing mask all the time. Making our children sit in a box while they are trying to learn in school. trying to take our 2nd amendment rights and even our 1st amendment.

We have so many more that we can go on and on, we need a change in America, we need fresh blood who is not a politician. Someone who has manage business and knows what the people of this country want. That is why I am here.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Richard King (R)

We should have term limits. politicians who are in there for 12 plus years need to move on. This should be no more than 3 terms being served. We need fresh ideas and fresh people in office to keep up with the changes in society.

What qualities does the U.S. Senate possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Richard King (R)

I am just an average guy making the best that I can for my family. I work hard to support them and my children and also teach them the way. My children will always understand that a dollar made is much more appreciated than a dollar giving to them. I not only love my family, but I also love our county. I want us to get back into being a strong country. Economic security, border security and in global strength. We are not what we use to be, and I will do what I can to bring us closer to where we once were under President Trump.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for senators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Richard King (R)

No I feel the complete opposite. This is the problem we have in America right now. We have a President who been in office for 40+ years and he is tearing our county apart. We need business leaders to run our country as our country is a business. The biggest business in the world.

What do you think of the filibuster?

Richard King (R)

I am for it as we need to have the 60 votes as if we didn't have this in place today. We would be in a bigger mess than we are.

What criteria would you apply when deciding whether to confirm presidential appointees?

Richard King (R)

I am looking for the following:

1. What business has this person managed. Such as being a CEO. 2. Was this person successful at his or her business. 3. Who would be the VP. 4. Does he or she follow the United States Constitution. 5. Someone who is looking out for the people of the United States.

6. Someone who does not have a personal agenda to be push down people thoarts.

If you are not a current senator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Richard King (R)

I am not a senator currently and as for committees and being a part of. I would love to be on a committee that can help small business grow their business. I would love to get a round table with many small business owners with many CEOs of large corporation and help brainstorm on how they can provide ideals on growing their own business. Many leaders from large corporations have ideas that they have learned and sharing their best practices will help the smaller business owners.

If you are a current senator, why did you join your current committees?

Richard King (R)

NA

Is there a particular senator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Richard King (R)

Honestly there are a few that I really like. With that said, I would say Senator Kenndy. He has such great one liner that crack me ups great. On top of that I see things like he does. Next to him would be Senator Cruz, and Senator Rubio are a few more examples .

Tell us your favorite joke.

Richard King (R)

Well, it would be from Adrew Dice Clay. Hate to say not to appropriate to put on here. But you get the idea.

How would you evaluate a judicial nominee?

Richard King (R)

Here are a few that I would use to evaluate one

1. Work experiences. 2. What they have done and how well respected they are. 3. Looking for someone that is with the constitution and follow it. 4. Look at their history on how they ruled on cases.

These are a few that I would use as my top evaluations.

What kind of relationships would you build with other senators?

Richard King (R)

Building relationship with other senators is very important. We all need to understand where we all stand on issues, and we need to also learn that we need to work together for the American people. Not for our own personal gain. So not working with other senators building strong relations not only in my own party but across the aisle. We all need to work as one in order to get things done.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Richard King (R)

It depends on what we are trying to compromise on, but for the most part you do have to in some cases. The time that I would not compromise is when someone wants to pass a policy that is not for the American people and that I am strongly against. I will stand my ground and vote against it.

See also

More about these elections:

• Arizona State Senate elections, 2022

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