Walter "Les" Presmyk

Republican | Arizona

Walter "Les" Presmyk websites LinkedIn

Candidate Profile*

Walter "Les" Presmyk — Mine Inspector (Arizona Republican Primary | July 21, 2026)
Mine Inspector Arizona General | November 3, 2026
Ratings & research below apply to this race only — Select to see 1 other races

Leans Conservative

*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.

BIOGRAPHY

EDUCATION

University of Arizona, Tucson, BS Mining Engineering, 1970-1975

WORK & MILITARY

Salt River Project-Tempe, Arizona, Principal Mining Engineer, 1987-2017

Magma Copper Company-Superior and San Manuel, Arizona, Production Supervisor, Mine Planning Engineer, Assistant General Mine Foreman, 1976-1987

Miami Copper Company-Miami, Arizona, Engineering Student, 1970-1975

AFFILIATIONS

University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum, Advisory Council and Volunteer, 2013-2022

University of Arizona Mining, Mineral and Natural Resource Education Museum, Advisory Council/Chairman, 2018-2026

Dignity Foundation Board, Board Member/Chairman, 2012-2023

Gilbert, Arizona, Town Councilmember/Vice-Mayor, 1999-2011

SME-Society of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, Member/Section Chairman, 1970-2026

Mineralogical Society of Arizona, Life member/President, 1964-2026

Tucson Gem & Mineral Society, Life member/President, 1970-2026

Flagg Mineral Foundation, Trustee/Board Chairman, 1990-2026

Valley Metro/Regional Public Transportation Authority, Board member/Chairman, 2000-2011

Gilbert, AZ Veterans Day Ceremony and Veterans Advisory Board, Co-founder and board member, 2003-2026

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Gilbert Town Council, 1999-2011

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

Arizona State Mine Inspector, 2025-2026

ENDORSEMENTS*

*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (1)

*Center for Arizona Policy Action CAP Action

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (4)

John Lewis

Rep. Gail Griffin

Walt Blackman

Republican LD11 and LD13

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)

Nick Myers (2026)

Walter "Les" Presmyk (2026)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (6)

Barby Ingle (2026)

Gail Griffin (2026)

Janet Weninger (2026)

Nick Myers (2026)

Walter "Les" Presmyk (2026)


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)

Janeen Connolly (2025)

OTHER INFORMATION

August 2026 - Candidate participated in a debate organized by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission.  

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Choose not to answer

Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

To save the life of the mother

Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.

Choose not to answer

The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.

Neutral

The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.

Agree

All laws, until changed by state legislatures or Congress should be enforced.


ECONOMY

What is your position on the minimum wage?

It should exist to help workers achieve a basic standard of living.

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

Strongly Agree

List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.

Balance the budget and put in place a long-term plan to pay off the national debt. No larger drain on our resources than paying interest.


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

Government cannot favor or promote one religion over another. Neither should any religion be allowed to dictate regional or national policy.

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Agree


HEALTHCARE

What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.

B. As long as the program is self funding without government support.

The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.

Strongly Disagree


NATIONAL SECURITY

The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.

Strongly Agree

Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?

Yes because they represent our only ally in the middle east


IMMIGRATION

I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.

Strongly Disagree


EDUCATION

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Agree

Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.

Disagree


VALUES

Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.

Agree

Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.

Agree

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Neutral

I support the expansion of gambling in my state.

Strongly Disagree

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I was raised in the Methodist church and respect everyone's right to believe the way they wish to.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Disagree


EQUALITY

Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.

Strongly Disagree

Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.

Strongly Agree


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.

Strongly Agree

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

Nuclear power


ABOUT YOU

When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?

Lean Conservative

Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.

No

Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.

No


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?

To ensure the safety of the general population by removing those individuals who have committed acts of violence against others.

Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.

Strongly Agree

Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.

Agree


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

No restrictions unless the individual is shown to be mentally incompetent

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