Q: How do you rank the state’s budget priorities?
A: My budget priorities will be health care, education, security and community. (Healthcare and education are addressed in later RGJ questions.) Security: It is important that AD39 residents are safe and secure. This means our national guard, law enforcement, first responders, public health professionals, those maintaining our public works and public service providers (whom are often taken for granted) are afforded training, equipment and support. It means we are as prepared as we can reasonably be to provide public safety in times of natural or man-made disaster. I consider job and retirement security to also be important state issues. Nevada’s economy must be kept vital to provide good jobs and allow businesses to prosper. No retiree should be forced from their home of many years by overly-burdensome property taxes or inadequate senior services. Community: Wise investments in community include investments for water that is clean, safe and adequate to meet our needs. It means smart growth that is well-planned and managed, and it can mean incentives to encourage the use of renewable energy or the development of new innovative industries in Nevada.
Q: If there is a budget surplus, what will you do with the money?
A: The budget surplus is dependant on the vitality of Nevada’s economy and resulting sales tax revenues. It is prudent to put at least 50 percent of a budget surplus in a restricted fund for those inevitable times of economic downturn when the state might experience a budget deficit. To better anticipate fluctuations in the economy, I support improved long-term financial planning. It would be helpful to anticipate Nevada’s budgetary future with projections of 5, 10, 15 and 20 years. In the same way a prospering business uses better-than-usual profits to make capital investments to stay competitive, the remainder of the surplus should be invested in our state, not to grow the state government, but to improve and renovate infrastructure in areas where there is a definite need. Priorities must be established and there must be close scrutiny of all expenditures to make sure every tax dollar is being invested wisely.
Q: What will you do to improve the state’s education system? Do you support full-day Kindergarten? Do you support a voucher system for school choice?
A: To improve the state’s education system we must first provide our students with the books and supplies they need to learn while we strive to improve the efficiency of the state’s education system and the effectiveness of our educational programs. The curriculum in our schools must prepare students to obtain higher paying jobs rather than simply entry-level, minimum-wage jobs. We must empower our teachers to challenge their students with advanced education in mathematics, science and the arts. The curriculum should also provide students the specialized skills training needed in local trades. This alternative path to conventional education could utilize private/public/government partnerships working to offer specialized training and on-the-job experience. I support full-day Kindergarten; it will give the very young a head start. I do not support a voucher system for school choice. We must find ways to make ALL of our public schools state-of-the-art. Every student should have the opportunity for a quality education and should be proud of the school they attend.
Q: What will you do to manage the state’s water resources?
A: It is the responsibility of the state’s legislature to establish laws and regulations to preserve and protect Nevada’s water. This must be done not only by taking into consideration what’s in the public’s best interest today but also by considering what’s best for the environment and the legacy we will pass on to future generations. I will always vote to protect and defend the precious water resources in our assembly district. Within the framework of clear and detailed regulation, Nevada’s water should be managed under the close supervision of the state’s water regulatory agencies. Concern about the quantity and quality of our water supply must be a high priority of the legislature. It is important this issue be addressed NOW.
Q: What should the state’s role be in improving health care access and affordability?
A: The state should take the lead in developing solutions to improve health care access and affordability. One in five Nevadans does not have health insurance. This is another area where coalitions of the state government, private business and representatives of the public should work together to propose affordable, workable solutions. Other states are developing innovative group health insurance offerings that target the uninsured. Through innovative risk management affordable health coverage options are being made available to small businesses and the self-employed. The legislature should analyze these programs and determine the feasibility and the costs associated with adopting the best aspects of these plans for Nevada. Once a thorough study has been made, public hearings at the legislature and in our districts should be held to educate and receive constituent feedback. Then the legislature should take concrete steps to institute an acceptable program to improve health care access and affordability for Nevadans.
Q: What makes you different than your opponents?
A: I am the best candidate because I will be a guardian of the public’s best interest. I will not be the agent of special interests. I will not practice favoritism or cronyism. I pledge to serve while adhering to the highest ethical standards. I am a supporter of businesses and jobs. I am for reasonable, smart, planned growth. In these divisive political times, I am a moderate who can find the middle ground and bring people together to achieve real solutions for Nevada. Throughout my professional life while I was working and busy raising our family, I made the time to be active in community affairs. From an early age my grandmother inspired and encouraged me to work to make a positive difference in this world. Now that I’m retired, I have the time and energy to be a public servant. I will work diligently on behalf of the residents of the Carson Valley, Lake Tahoe and Topaz areas, be responsive to my constituents, put the public good above partisan politics, and work cooperatively with fellow legislators to develop solutions to the real problems facing our state. I ask for your vote to serve as your state assemblywoman.
Q: What is your political history, including prior political races?
A: I understand the legislative process. I have worked with affordable housing lobbyists. I know how to research, draft and present a bill for consideration before legislative committees. I testified before the United States Congress on affordable housing. After the congressional hearing, the program was adopted in 9 other states. I also testified before the Nevada legislature in favor of the Canadian importation prescription drug plan.
Q: Should the state help fund school construction in the wake of the 2005 property tax cap that reduced revenues to county school districts? If so, how? If not, why not?
A: The state should help fund school construction in the wake of the 2005 property tax cap that reduced revenues to county school districts. It is important that early in the next session a status update be made by school districts regarding the impact of the property tax cap so that the issue can be properly assessed. If some of the 2006 surplus is wisely invested, a portion of the interest earned from the surplus could be used for school construction and maintenance.