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Bill Gates, opinion contributor Published 6:00 a.m. MT May 14, 2021

Opinion: True Republicans would never dream of hiring an unknown cybersecurity firm with no experience auditing elections to chase insane rumors of fraud.

As a lifelong Republican, Im worriedthatmyparty of small government and balanced budgets is being overtaken by conspiracy enablerswhose primary purposeis to promote the Big Lie about the 2020 election.

It doesnt have to be this way.

Strong politicalparties are what make our republic work. Ideas, policies and direction filter up from the left and the right,colliding in thehalls of democracy across the country,andculminatingas the lawof the land.Without two strong parties,onepartydominatesandhalf the populationfeelsunheardandunrepresented. Thelong-termhealth of arepublicrequiresabalance.

Internal party politics always pull to the fringes.As history has shown,humankind finds comfort in their small tribes.But peace and prosperity demandbig tents.

Our best leaders whether Republican or Democrat promote a vision and a set of policiesthat canappeal to most Americans, not just rabid party loyalists.Partiesthatleadwith all citizens in mindcan win independents,win elections and get things done.

I am a Republican. I always have been. In highschool,I started the first Deer Valley High School Young Republicans Club.In college, I was a state officerfor the National College Young Republicans.Later, I worked asa Republicanelection integrity attorney.

My formative teenage political years cameduring the Reagan presidency. My demographic of male,45-55 in age, will showon anypolitical science chart to be one of the most conservativegroups on the spectrum due to Reagans influence.

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Im for small government, balanced budgets,efficient processes and just about anyinitiativethat makes the most out ofthe taxpayerdollar.

These beliefs used to defineconservatism.Now, only one thing matters to many Republicans:adherence toany and alltheories that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump.

Maricopa County ballots from the 2020 general election are examined and recounted by contractors hired by the Arizona Senate, May 5, 2021, at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix.(Photo: Mark Henle/The Republic)

As a member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, I helped oversee and then certify results for three major elections in 2020.I saw the detailed planning done by our elections team, saw themexpertlypivot to make sure people could vote when and how they wanted during a pandemic, and askedtough questions in my oversight roleoncethe results had come inand the protests had begun.

I can say with confidence the election was safe, secureand fair.

There was no foul play.

There was no vote switching.

The November electionwas one of thebest weve ever run.

For certifying and then defending the results of the 2020 general election, Ive been sued, subpoenaed and chastised,primarilyby Republicans.For embracing reality, Ive had my conservative credentials questionedand even my integrity challenged.

I take comfort in knowing that I am doing the moral thing by telling the truth to my constituents.I alsohappen to believetelling the truthaboutthe 2020 electionis good politically.

If Republicansbecome the party of the BigLie if we encourage this madness much longer wewill lose credibility withthe majority ofAmericans on issues where I believe we have better ideas.We will dolasting damage to our republic.

True Republicans would never dream of wasting taxpayer money to hire an unknown cybersecurity firm with no elections auditing experience to audit an election that hasalready been audited.This is what the Arizona Senate is doing with their Cyber Ninja audit.

True Republicans would notstand idly by while auditors paid with taxpayer dollarschasedinsane rumors that ballots were flown in from South Korea to change the outcome of the presidential race, orthatsecret watermarkson the ballotsrevealed by UV lightswouldexpose fraudonce and for all.

This is what the Arizona Senate is doing with their Cyber Ninja audit.

True Republicans wouldinsteadsupport what the Board of Supervisors did to address constituent questions following the November election:

We need more Republicans to return to dealingin truth and reality.

We have been elected to lead, not to appease conspiracy theorists.

We have been elected torestore faith in democracy, not sowendlessseeds of doubt imperiling it.

To save our party, and to save our republic, we need to stop the Big Lie.

Republican Bill Gates represents north Phoenix District 3 on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. On Twitter: @billgatesaz.

Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2021/05/14/arizona-republicans-like-bill-gates-must-stop-big-lie-election/5080733001/

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Elected Republicans like me must stop the Big Lie about the 2020 election - The Arizona Republic