Running in the heavily Republican district are, from left, Rep. Mark Finchem of Oro Valley; Brett Roberts, a Pinal County constable; and retired carpenter Howell Jones.
Handout photos via Arizona Daily Star

Republican Rep. Mark Finchem of Oro Valley, who’s considered among the most conservative lawmakers in Arizona, had a surprising answer for why he deserves a third term as a state legislator: He saved Rio Nuevo and voted to increase state spending.

Finchem is among the three Republicans running in the Aug. 28 GOP primary for two House seats in the heavily Republican Legislative District 11, which spans from Oro Valley, Marana and SaddleBrooke up along the west side of Interstate 10 to the city of Maricopa.