For Immediate Release: May 17, 2010
PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. (May 17, 2010) – Arizona Congressional Candidate Ed Winkler traveled to the Arizona/Mexico border May 7-8 to conduct a fact-finding mission in the area and meet with Cochise County officials, border patrol officers, members of the local law enforcement, and area residents and ranchers. Winkler’s first-hand experience uncovered several issues with Arizona’s border:
To say that our border is more secure today than ever before is completely bogus. Our government has had 20 years to solve this complex problem, and today Arizonans and Americans are in greater danger from illegal aliens than ever before. I was amazed to see just how easy it is to cross over. If you want to enter the United States illegally, just travel a bit east of Douglas and you can enter – no problem. The surveillance by Border Patrol agents over this stretch was thin at best.
Another thing that I found very disturbing is how organized the trafficking industry is. They are well-armed, dangerous and very good at what they do. They even set-up people as decoys to cross the border for the purpose of distracting the officers, allowing them to be caught so that the traffickers themselves can sneak their more valuable contraband past the Border Patrol.
Residents in Portal, Ariz., a small town 50 miles north of the Chiricahua Mountains can’t even leave their homes unattended for fear of a dangerous home invasion. One resident told me they had experienced four attempted home invasions and had been robbed 15 times. For an American citizen to have to deal with this on a regular basis is completely unacceptable. We have to secure our border once and for all, and offer our constituents the protection and life that they deserve. This will be my main goal if I am elected to the United States House of Representatives.
A complete report of the fact-finding mission is available upon request.
Candidate Ed Winkler is running to replace Congressman John Shadegg’s seat representing the 3rd Congressional District which consists of Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Anthem and New River, Ariz. Fiscal responsibility, enforcing immigration law and a strong foreign policy are top priorities for Winkler’s campaign.
ABOUT ED WINKLER: Ed Winkler was elected to the Paradise Valley Town Council in 1998 and re-elected in 2000 and 2004. In 2006, he was elected as mayor of Paradise Valley. Winkler a small business owner also had a career with IBM for 30 years. He has lived in Paradise Valley since 1982 with his wife, Karen. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.
Looks like Winkler might be doing a 180 on immigration. He told the ARA a couple weeks ago that he thought Jeff Flake’s stance on immigration is correct. The instant hostility in the room was almost tangible.
“I was amazed to see just how easy it is to cross over.”
“Another thing that I found very disturbing is how organized the trafficking industry is. They are well-armed, dangerous and very good at what they do.”
Gawd!! We along the border have been screaming about this FOR YEARS. Has one more soul finally seen the light?
C Wren
The “light will beam until August, diminish somewhat prior to November and be extinguished by January!
An old traditon for GOP Congressional candidates and Senatorial incumbents!
Winkler filed $47K with the FEC and has only yard signs. I don’t think he stands much of a chance in this campaign.
However, I got the Quayle mailer this weekend and am so happy that he lives here with his wife and dog and claims he owns a business that is creating jobs.
So do I – I pay my kids an allowance for choirs, does that count?