Congressional District 1 candidate Dr. Sandra Livingstone made a recent whirlwind swing through the Gila Valley. And, just like a dust devil, she kicked up a lot of interest. Eastern Arizona College President Mark Bryce remarked, “I’m pleased there is another Republican in the race. She’s impressive.” This reaction was typical.

Livingstone was the guest of Barbara Haralson of the Safford lunch Rotary Club. Her presentation on the United Nations and religious freedom left everyone wanting more. “I should have invited so and so,” was the comment heard most following the presentation.

Livingstone is a graduate of Prescott High School. Her family is among one of Arizona’s oldest, tracing to the early Spanish land grants. Her paternal line began in America on the Mayflower and led to the Pioneer founding of Pine, Ariz., in the 1870s. Her background and experience led Lewis Tenney to endorse her, saying, “After careful consideration, I feel Dr. Sandra Livingstone will best represent the issues and concerns of rural Arizona in Congressional District 1.”

Dr. Sandra Livingstone, congressional candidate from Prescott, met with EAC President Bryce on Tuesday. They informally discussed the status of the college’s obtaining permission to offer four-year bachelor degrees in selected subject areas. Of particular interest was the vocational partnership between the college and FMI. Contributed photo

Livingstone returns to Arizona from her work as director in the U.S. State Department. She led the U.S. mission’s efforts last year in defeating a proposed U.N. resolution by the Islamic block of nations that would have made criticism of Islam a criminal act. For her efforts Secretary of State Rice awarded Livingstone the U.S. State Department’s Meritorious Honor Award for 2007. She has foreign policy experience in the Middle East as well as in Eastern Europe.

Following college, her experience includes two years as a missionary teacher in Inner Mongolia, China (she speaks fluent Chinese), a doctorate in international treaty law and nine years as a professor of international trade law at Cambridge University in England. She is also a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Livingstone is staunchly pro-life. “We have made a grave error that has detrimentally affected several generations in our country,” she said, “and if we really believe that every individual human being is valuable, we need to protect the value of that human being from the time of conception.”

When asked why she is running for Congress, she responded, “Because it is where my background and experience can best serve my country and Arizona. It’s ‘we, the people,’ not ‘us, the government.’ “

Livingstone has written extensively on the NATA trade agreement and, in her legal opinion, would like to see the agreement revisited. “. . . over 500 pages of exemptions for Mexico and very little for the United States. It’s very one-sided,” she said.

At one point during the afternoon, the subject of oil bubbled up. Livingstone asserted, “We have all the energy resources we need; we just need to clear the way to developing it.” She added, “It’s very much like the border – there are solutions; the problem is in policy and will.”

In the words of former Arizona State Senate President Ken Bennett, “She represents and will remain grounded in the rural values we hold dear. I believe her impressive life experience means she will be able to hit the ground running on behalf of the citizens in CD-1.”

Livingstone will return to the Gila Valley Friday, Aug. 29, at 11:30 a.m. to address the Republican Women’s Club. The location will be upstairs in the Graham County Health Annex. The public is encouraged to come and get to know the “other” Republican candidate for Congress. Phone Jeanene Flake at 428-1933 for more details or visit Livingstone’s live town hall online at www.drlivingstoneipresume.com.