Paton, Valle, Gowan provide varying viewpoints on LD 30 issues

The Green Valley News has asked candidates in Legislative District 30 to discuss important issues facing the district. Summaries of the responses of the two state Senate candidates and one state Representative candidate follow, plus information about candidate Frank Antenori that was left out of an earlier issue. Responses from candidates for other offices will be published in upcoming editions.

Jonathan Paton — Republican — State Senate Candidate for LD 30

ON THE STATE BUDGET: “Given the budget crisis, I honestly don’t see how you can balance the budget without having small cuts everywhere. We are constitutionally mandated to balance the budget in Arizona.

“I don’t support tax increases in our current recession. Besides, it is virtually impossible because you need a supermajority in the Legislature to do so. The vast majority of the budget (over 67 percent) is mandated by ballot measure and is fixed by a formula which would take a vote of the people to change. That leaves us few options other than cuts.”

ON SCHOOLS: “While I don’t always agree with ‘No Child Left Behind,’ the state has to comply with it because of federal funding. I don’tthink we can raise M&O (maintenance and operations) funding given the current situation. We could index funding for new school construction for inflation. School districts like Sahuarita bid for a school from the SFB and by the time they actually get the money, construction costs have gone up. I would be willing to bond for that.”

ON ENERGY: “I favor solar tax credits and have supported them in the past.”

ON HEALTH COVERAGE FOR THE UNINSURED: “I support McCain’s program. I support market-driven solutions.”

ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: “Before any worker program we need to secure the border. I have a number of ideas regarding immigration. As the co-author of the state’s human smuggling act, along with Sen. Tim Bee, I have always focused on the crimes associated with illegal immigration.

“We need to go after the drop houses that are proliferating because of smuggling. Human smuggling is also a crime which requires immediate transfers of money. I think we need to take a strong look at Western Union and check cashing operations to root out money laundering and industries that enable smuggling.”

Georgette Valle — Democrat — State Senate Candidate for LD 30

ON THE STATE BUDGET: Valle says she would want to examine the issue carefully with her colleagues to reach a mutually agreeable solution.

“Education is always the highest priority for me and is particularly important today because many of our students are not succeeding. Also, education is a key issue in economic development as we look at retaining and attracting higher paying jobs.”

ON SCHOOLS: Valle said no to pushing Arizona out of the “No Child Left Behind” program and wants Congress to make significant changes to the program.

Valle advocates bonding for capital expenditures and says there’s a need for increased emphasis on technology, environmental studies, math, science and pre-engineering studies.

ON ENERGY: “Within the next five years, for both businesses and residences, Arizona should encourage energy and water conservation: incentives for solar water heating, tax benefits for businesses that pay their employees at certain levels and meet other conditions.”

ON HEALTH COVERAGE FOR THE UNINSURED: Valle said Arizona needs to influence the health insurance industry to provide affordable health care plans to small businesses. Most Arizona workers are employed by small businesses, which today are least able to provide health care options, she said.

ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: Valle said, “Ask that the Border Patrol move the checkpoint south of Tubac, much closer to the border. The federal government must reimburse medical costs of hospitals serving undocumented persons receiving emergency care.”

David Gowan — Republican State Representative — Candidate for LD 30

ON THE STATE BUDGET: “We need to protect vital programs such as law enforcement, but spending will need to be cut, most likely across the board over the remaining programs. Between 2000 and 2007 our state spending increased at a rate that was nearly 400 percent higher than population growth. This overspending created the problem and we can make cuts without jeopardizing vital programs. With our economy already suffering and the taxpayers already overburdened, I will not support increased taxes.”

ON SCHOOLS: “I am undecided on pushing Arizona out of the ‘No Child Left Behind’ program. I am opposed to mandates as a general rule, although I am in favor of education standards and accountability. I look forward to tackling this issue with education experts and stakeholders.” (He did not comment on a question about whether to fund new schools and if so, how.)

ON ENERGY: “Encouraging the production of energy and encouraging conservation will address both the supply and the demand side of the equation and will keep costs down. It is fashionable to say that solar power is the solution to all of our woes, but it is also nothing more than wishful thinking. Solar power cannot, by itself, meet our growing needs. It should be a part of an overall strategy that includes traditional sources, nuclear and even wind.”

ON HEALTH COVERAGE FOR THE UNINSURED: “I have already proposed a number of health care improvements, including tort reform and technological reforms to keep costs low, minimize medical errors, and standardize records to increase efficiency and safety. The more affordable and efficient health care is, the more people will be able to afford coverage.”

ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: “We have already done most of what can be done in domestic enforcement. We need to prohibit sanctuary city policies that encourage illegal immigration and we need to allow local law enforcement to help enforce our laws, but otherwise, there is little left that I think we can do without the federal government’s direct involvement.”

Frank Antenori — Republican — State Representative Candidate for LD 30

The following information was inadvertently left out of the Oct. 8 issues of the Green Valley News and Sahuarita Sun:

ON SCHOOLS: Would not make funding changes at this time. In the future would consider revamping the State Trust Land System to increase revenue for education. Would fund new school construction at current revenue levels and within the funding formulas. Would eliminate the School Facilities Board and return control to local school districts to save millions of dollars. Would sell or lease unused school property to pay for new construction before borrowing.

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.

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