The Fountain Hills Tea Party hosted Dr. Kelli Ward, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate at its meeting on June 20.

“Hire me to be you, your voice,” Ward said. “Elect an America First champion and that is me.

“In the Arizona State Senate I was a very effective senator by putting forth good ideas that everyone could get behind.”

Ward is unwavering in her support of President Donald Trump.

“If you want to see someone get things done, elect me,” Ward said. “I am similar to President Trump in that way, we are both results oriented.”

Ward said her number one priority is stopping illegal immigration by securing the border and building the wall.

Ward said in a recent visit to Yuma she was told by the sheriff they had been targeted with “bonsai” attacks in which a large number seeking to get into the U.S. would simply rush the access and overwhelm authorities.

“They couldn’t all be stopped so many got through and those sent back were back in the rush the next day,” Ward said.

She said the border fence at Yuma has since been improved and the “bonsai” attacks have all but stopped.

Ward said border security in the Tucson Sector still needs work.

A rancher along the border recently showed Ward the barbed wire fence that is the only barrier where his property abuts the border.

“It’s just four strands of flimsy barbed wire,” Ward said. She said the rancher was an elderly man who easily crawled under and climbed back over.

Ward said she believes the children being separated from parents at the border are being protected by the U.S. government.

“President Trump wants to prevent these children from being abused,” Ward said. “We don’t know whether these people are really their parents.”

Ward said she was opposed to any of the bills coming out of the U.S. House last week.

As a physician and healthcare professional Ward said she wants to bring her expertise to the healthcare debate in Washington.

“We need to address the Obamacare devastation and fully repeal the bill,” Ward said. “You notice I did not say replace. If you are a surgeon you don’t replace a tumor after you remove it.

“We need to get the free market back into medicine.”

She supports health savings accounts, and encourages major medical to cover major expenses or emergencies.

Ward was a physician for 16 years in Lake Havasu City in general practice with her mother.

As a military wife, Ward said she supports a strong military that has the training and equipment that is necessary to have “peace through strength.”

She also said it is far too difficult for veterans to get the benefits they deserve and need.

“I don’t think veterans benefits should be subject to a means test,” Ward said.

Ward reminded the audience that she is the only one in the race for senate who is a mom and has made the tough financial decisions that go with running a household.

“You have to be willing to say no,” she added. “We need someone in the Senate who is honest and accessible. I look forward to working for you; I look forward to being you in Washington.”