Ruff, Thomas

Meet the Candidate

Running For:

School Board

District:

Canon Elementary School District

Age:

Occupation:

Retired

Education:

University of Nebraska

Family:

Two brothers, a retired attorney and a retired rural mail carrier. Two sisters, both renowned educators.

Religion:

Christianity

Biographical Info:

I grew up in a small town in central Nebraska and graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in Business and Finance. After graduation in 1978 I moved to Arizona working in the finance industry before starting my own company The Information Market, becoming a pioneer in real estate data. In 2012 my company was acquired by the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service. We were acquired to assist in the creation of their on line public records and tax system used by over 40,000 Realtors. I developed data entry and verification systems to ensure the highest quality data to assist Realtors in their daily work flow. I became recognized as one of the top housing analysts in Phoenix frequently quoted in local newspapers and national magazines, and appearing on radio and television. I retired in November of 2024. Preferring the quieter pace and serenity of a small town I left Phoenix and moved to Black Canyon City in November of 2024.

Statement:

As your school board candidate, my priorities are clear. We need to ensure every student masters reading, writing, and math by third grade. Our current test scores are unacceptable. We need to support our teachers with the resources and respect they deserve. We need to champion a safe and welcoming school for all kids. And as a steward of tax dollars, we need to make every dollar count for classrooms, not bureaucracy. I believe we can raise standards without raising taxes. I will listen to parents and teachers, not just talk at them. There is no reason our children, the most valuable commodity in our community, cannot excel. I’m a prolific researcher, always asking questions, always stiving to find a more efficient ways to get the job done.

Survey

Response Legend

SSupports
OOpposes
*Comment
−Declined to respond
†Declined to respond, Position based on citation

Question	Response	Comments/Notes
1. Requiring district and charter school officials, including teachers, to inform parents about their child’s social, mental, emotional, or physical health.	S*	Parents are the primary guardians and have the fundamental right to know what's happening with their children. Schools should partner with families, not keep secrets from them.
2. Allowing parents to opt their children out of activities or lessons that offend their personal, moral, or religious beliefs.	S*	Families should have the final say over what their kids are exposed to, and schools shouldn't force participation in anything that conflicts with a family's values.
3. Increasing state and local taxes to provide more funding for schools and school facility projects.	O*	We can raise academic standards and improve outcomes without raising taxes by being smarter with the dollars we already have.
4. Requiring signed permission from a parent before a student may participate in any sexuality related instruction, activities, or clubs.	S*	Parents have the right to decide when and how their children are introduced to sensitive topics, and schools should never bypass that authority.
5. Allowing all parents to use tax credits and publicly funded empowerment scholarship accounts to enable their children to attend any private, homeschool, or online academy of their choice.	S*	Families deserve real options, and education dollars should follow the child, not the bureaucracy. It should be the board's responsibility to see that public education is the best option in our community.
6. Making available books and instructional materials that include sexually explicit images and themes in school classrooms and libraries.	O*	Our children deserve an age-appropriate learning environment, and explicit content has no place in K through eight education.
7. Acquiring parental consent for school faculty and staff to refer to students by pronouns that do not align with the student’s birth sex.	S*	Parents have the right to be involved in decisions that affect their child's identity and upbringing, and schools should not make these changes without their knowledge and approval.
8. Allocating teacher pay raises based upon merit rather than providing uniform salary schedule increases based upon years of teaching or additional credentialing (e.g. master’s degrees).	S*	Rewarding excellence and results will attract and retain the best educators for our kids. Teachers who believe in performance base pay will pass that belief on to their students, inspiring them to stive for excellence.
9. Implementing policies to allow students and faculty to use the restroom, locker room, and shower room based on self-identification rather than biological sex.	O*	Privacy and safety for all students, especially girls, must come first in shared spaces.
10. Teaching what is known as diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI); social, emotional learning (SEL); or critical race theory (CRT) in public schools.	O*	Our focus should stay on core academics-reading, writing, and math, not on ideological frameworks that divide students or distract from learning.
11. Requiring each district and charter school to post online a list of all curriculum and instructional materials being used in the classroom.	S*	Parents have the right to know exactly what their children are being taught, and transparency builds trust between schools and families.