Scott, David

Meet the Candidate

Running For:
State House
District:
10
Political Affiliation:
No Labels Party
Age:
46
Occupation:
Bank Market President
Education:
MBA in Finance
Family:
Wife of 16 years, daughter (13) son (10)
Religion:
Christian
Biographical Info:

David Scott is the Arizona Market President for First Western Bank & Trust, where he oversees the operations of the bank in the state and serves on the bank’s Executive Committee. With more than 25 years of experience in banking, he has worked closely with businesses of all sizes, entrepreneurs, developers and local organizations to support economic growth and long-term financial stability.

He is actively involved in the East Valley community, serving on the boards of Junior Achievement of Arizona, the Million Dollar Teacher Project, PHX East Valley Partnership and the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce. He also co-chairs the Community Action Partnership at the Mesa Chamber of Commerce. David leads the Early Literacy initiative at Valley Leadership and is a certified substitute teacher in Mesa Public Schools. He also serves on the campus council of Central Christian Church in Mesa.

Originally from Louisiana, David moved to Arizona over 20 years ago and has lived in Mesa for the past eight years with his wife and their two children.

Statement:

I’m running because I’ve spent my career working directly with small business owners, educators, and families. I see the same pattern over and over: people are doing the right things, but the system isn’t working for them.

Costs keep rising, opportunities feel harder to reach, and trust in leadership is wearing thin. That’s not because people aren’t trying, it’s because too many decisions are disconnected from real world impact.

I’m running to bring practical experience, accountability, and independent thinking back into the process. Not to push an ideology, but to focus on what actually works, such as lowering the cost of living, strengthening education, and creating an environment where people can build something and get ahead.

Survey

Response Legend

  • SSupports
  • OOpposes
  • *Comment
  • −Declined to respond
  • †Declined to respond, Position based on citation
Question Response Comments/Notes
1. Enacting state-level restrictions on firearm ownership beyond current Arizona law. O* I do not support adding new state-level restrictions beyond current Arizona law. I am a gun owner and former competitive shooter. At the same time, I think we have a responsibility to take gun ownership seriously, especially when it comes to working with law enforcement to keep firearms out of the hands of people who pose a real risk to themselves or others. That means focusing on enforcement of existing laws and making sure we’re addressing clear threats in a way that respects both public safety and constitutional rights.
2. Adding sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in Arizona nondiscrimination statutes. O* Federal law already provides protections in employment, and that should be respected and enforced. I believe people should be treated fairly and not discriminated against, including based on sexual orientation or gender identity. When it comes to expanding state law, I think it’s important to be thoughtful about how those protections are written, making sure they are clear, consistent, and account for the rights of individuals, small businesses, and religious organizations.
3. Expanding state-level enforcement efforts to deter illegal border crossings. O* Border security is primarily a federal responsibility, and Arizona already has federal and local law enforcement working in this space. I don’t support expanding state-level enforcement in a broad or undefined way. If the state is involved, it should be in clearly defined, targeted roles that support coordination and address specific public safety concerns, not duplicating efforts that are already in place.
4. Prohibiting taxpayer funds from directly or indirectly funding abortion services, except where required by federal law. S* I support existing Arizona law that prohibits the use of taxpayer funds for abortion services, except where required by federal law. At the same time, I believe these issues should be handled carefully and with respect for individual circumstances, and that access to appropriate healthcare and support services should remain available within the bounds of the law.
5. Maintaining the universal Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program without limiting eligibility. O* I support school choice, but I do not support maintaining the current universal ESA program without guardrails. As it stands, the program has expanded faster than our ability to ensure accountability, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. A large portion of funding is going to families who were already in private school, which increases costs to the state without improving outcomes for students who need the most support. We should preserve access to ESAs, but refocus the program so it is sustainable, accountable, and prioritizes students and families who rely on it most.
6. Legalizing physician-assisted suicide for individuals seeking end-of-life assistance, regardless of terminal illness. O* End-of-life care is a serious and deeply personal issue, but I do not support legalizing physician-assisted suicide without clear limitations. Any consideration of this issue would need to be narrowly defined, with strong safeguards and focused on individuals facing terminal illness. The priority should be expanding access to quality palliative care, pain management, and support for patients and families.
7. Allowing licensed counselors to provide therapy to minors seeking to reduce or manage same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria, with parental consent. O* Minors should be protected from practices that are widely considered harmful or unsupported by mainstream medical and mental health standards. I do not support allowing licensed counselors to engage in efforts to change a young person’s sexual orientation. At the same time, young people and their families should have access to qualified, ethical counseling that helps them navigate questions around identity and mental health in a safe, supportive, and evidence-based way.
8. Increasing criminal penalties for the sale and distribution of fentanyl and other illicit drugs. S* Fentanyl is devastating communities, and there should be serious consequences for those who traffic and distribute it. We’ve also seen that penalty increases alone don’t solve the problem and can disproportionately impact vulnerable communities. Enforcement should be focused on major traffickers, alongside stronger investment in treatment, prevention, and recovery so we’re actually reducing demand and saving lives.
9. Requiring stronger age verification and parental consent protections for minors accessing social media platforms and downloading mobile applications. S* I support stronger age verification and parental consent protections for minors using social media and mobile apps. Parents should have a meaningful role in what their kids are accessing online, and platforms should be responsible for enforcing clear, consistent standards. The goal should be to better protect kids from harmful content and addictive design practices while keeping the approach practical and enforceable.
10. Increasing criminal penalties for individuals who purchase sex. S* Sex trafficking is a serious problem in Arizona, and demand is a big part of what drives it. Increasing penalties for those who purchase sex is an appropriate step to help deter that behavior. Enforcement should be focused on buyers and traffickers, while victims are treated as victims and connected with the services and support they need to recover and rebuild their lives.
11. Requiring election procedures that ensure voter identification verification and ballot security. S* Arizona already has strong election laws, including voter identification and ballot security measures, and those should be maintained and consistently enforced. Confidence in our elections comes from both the integrity of the system and the public’s understanding of how it works. The focus should be on protecting what’s working, improving transparency where needed, and making sure voters have confidence in the process without creating unnecessary barriers to participation.
12. Enacting a legislative referral that would ask voters to repeal Arizona Proposition 139, the constitutional right to abortion. O* Voters have already spoken on this issue by approving Proposition 139, and that decision should be respected. I do not support referring a measure to repeal a constitutional right that Arizona voters have just established.
13. Expanding current marijuana laws to increase accessibility to recreational marijuana for adults. O* I do not support expanding accessibility beyond what is already allowed. If anything, we should be looking at how existing laws are working and whether additional safeguards are needed, particularly around youth access and vaping products.