Chris Taylor is a true rural Arizonan who understands the needs and desires of citizens in smaller communities. Chris was born and raised in Safford, AZ. His family has been in rural eastern Arizona, for 7 generations. His ancestors were part of the group who settled the Gila Valley. Chris is a 2004 graduate of Safford High School, where he was a standout athlete on the Football and Basketball teams. His parents placed great importance on being anxiously engaged in good causes. As a young man he was very active in the community and was heavily involved in The Boy Scouts of America where he earned the Rank of Eagle Scout before he turned 16 years of age. 

As a result of the atrocious attacks on September 11th, 2001 and after a close friend and high school teammate was killed in Iraq, Chris decided to enlist in the United States Army as a Psychological Warfare Specialist in the United States Army Special Operations Command following a long line of combat veterans in his family. Both of his grandfathers saw combat in the Korean War and likewise, his father in Vietnam. 

After basic training Chris attended the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (JFKSWCS) at Fort Bragg, NC earning a diploma in Psychological Warfare, courses included being trained in the art of persuasion, influence, negotiation, and deception as well as detecting deception. Chris will be successful in Congress using this highly unique skill set to get things done for America and help solve the most difficult issues we face as a nation. Chris became a second generation Paratrooper earning his Airborne Wings at Fort Benning, GA. He returned to Fort Bragg, NC to attend Special Operations Language Training (SOLT) at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (JFKSWCS) earning a Diploma in the Spanish Language. 

Soon after his highly specialized training was complete Chris was assigned to a Tactical PSYOP Team (TPT) attached to 3rd Special Forces Group right in time for the "Surge" in Afghanistan. He deployed with 3rd Special Forces Group to Southern Afghanistan serving as an augmented member of a Special Forces ODA (Operational Detachment Alpha) in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan for most of 2009

After a brief time back in the states Chris redeployed for his second combat tour. This time he was attached to a MARSOC Marine Special Operations Team (MSOT) now known as Marine Raiders in Western Afghanistan’s Herat and Badghis Provinces for most of 2010. Upon returning home from his second tour of duty, Chris chose to transition back to civilian life, he was honorably discharged and was decorated for his combat service. 

Upon returning home to Safford, AZ, he began using his G.I. Bill benefits at Eastern Arizona College where he met and fell in love with his sweetheart and eternal companion Sarah. After a brief whirlwind romance the couple was married and sealed for time and all eternity in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Gila Valley Temple. A year later they welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Jordan Rae Taylor. In 2014 Chris founded Desert Eagle Addiction Recovery, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals, especially fellow combat veterans, suffering from drug addiction. In his 5 years as Executive Director he has been able to help countless individuals find recovery and the help they need to become healthy, productive members of society again. 

In addition to his non-profit work, in 2015 Chris fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a state certified firefighter with the Safford Fire Department following in the footsteps of his Grandfather who was a long time Fire Chief with the department ending an illustrious 32-year career with an induction into the Arizona Fire Service Hall of Fame. In 2016 at the age of 30, Chris was elected to the Safford City Council receiving over 80% of total votes cast. In February 2019 the couple welcomed their second child, a baby boy named Spencer Bingham Taylor.

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