Sat, Jul 04, 2009
RANCHO RESORT MAINTANANCE POSITION General A1 Communications Cable Techs Health Care Sierra Tucson Eating Disorders Program Coordinator Tucson RegionState Representative, District 30: Republican: Frank AntenoriTucson, Arizona | Published: 10.05.2008
Name: Frank Antenori
Office seeking: State Representative, District 30
Party registration: Republican
Age: 42
Occupation/employer: Program manager/Raytheon
Family: Wife, Lesley; Two sons, Frank III and Brodie
Religion: Roman Catholic
Income: Military pension, VA disability, Raytheon salary, book royalties
Residence: Tucson
Education: Bachelor of Health Science, minor in biology from Campbell University; paramedic certification, University of Texas. Special Forces, Medicine, Intelligence and Operations from U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Offices held/run for: Ran for U.S. Congress, AZ, CD-8
Civic activities/organizations: President, Pima County Library Board; Veterans of Foreign Wars, life member; National Rifle Association, life member; Tucson Republican Women, auxiliary member
Why are you running?
After serving in the military for over 20 years I've grown to appreciate the freedom we have. I see the uncontrolled expansion of government, excessive spending and taxation as an encroachment on that freedom. In recent years, the one constituency that has been ignored by the state government has been the taxpayer. I want to be the taxpayer's eyes and ears, but most of all their voice in Phoenix and restore people's faith in THEIR government.
The biggest issue facing my constituents is: I would have to say illegal immigration. Sierra Vista, Green Valley and Tubac have been experiencing a huge increase in crime and incidents related to illegal immigration. Not a single campaign visit to any of them goes by without the issue of illegal immigration coming up.
Favorite local hangout: At home with my family
NPR or FOX? Fox, C-Span, CNBC
How long have you lived in Arizona? Over 4 years
What kind of vehicle do you drive? What kind of mileage does it get?Ford Explorer Sport Trac 20 MPG
If I could have dinner with any living person, I would choose: Osama bin Laden, at which time I would immediately facilitate his journey toward his 72 virgins.
If I had my own reality show, it would be titled: "The Journey of a Grateful American"
First job: Paper boy, age 12
Do you see tax cuts as a good way to grow the economy during the economic downturn, or would you prefer to raise taxes or see them stay the same to avoid cutting government programs?
Consider this: Jobs are created by businesses, especially small business. Businesses do not pay taxes, they pass them on to the consumer, adding to the price of products and services. Lowering business taxes will allow Arizona-based businesses to better compete against businesses in other states and around the world. Businesses that successfully compete generate more jobs and revenue, resulting in growing the economy. The result is that more tax dollars are generated from the jobs created. Business taxes are regressive and add to the burden of the consumer and inhibit economic growth. An economy that is healthy and growing will allow us the option of choosing the types of social programs that we wish and need.
What policies would you support to improve the standing of Arizona schools in comparison to the rest of the nation?
The state should review the funding formulas (laws) for education and ensure that as much money as possible makes it into the classrooms. I support a salary structure that will allow recruitment and retention of the best teachers. There should be a clear academic standard in the classroom that focuses on the essential skills needed to succeed in our highly competitive society. Because every student will not go on to college, I support expanding the JTED vocational program. This program will provide high school students with highly marketable skills needed to enter the job market upon graduation. Parents should be allowed to select a school of their choice with the money following the student or home-school if they so choose. My wife and I have two sons in Arizona public schools and we are committed to the quality of their education and successful graduation. It is time to dream big and aim to make our public school system the envy of the nation.
With the transportation tax off the ballot and the federal transportation trust running dry, how would you pay for growing transportation needs?
With the discretionary portion of the budget under greater pressure, one solution would be to restrict existing transportation funds to building and maintaining only state roads. Until the economy recovers, we should practice a no frills (no art, landscaping or rest stops) approach to transportation needs. Common sense dictates the only necessity is that we have well constructed, safe roads. A consideration should be given to the use of toll roads with the goal of terminating the tolls when the road is paid for. In Virginia, hundreds of miles of roads were built and the cost was recovered using tolls. When the roads were paid for, the toll booths were removed and the roads were turned into free public roads. This eliminated the need to raise taxes because the vehicles using the roads, including those from out of state, paid for them.
The state's budget shortfall next year may be in the neighborhood of $2 billion. It must be balanced. How do you do that? Raise taxes/which ones? Cut programs/which ones?
The Legislature must set priorities, just like Arizona families do at home. First fund the essentials: education, public safety and infrastructure. Then you make tough decisions about what is next in priority. All funding must be thoroughly examined. I propose that all discretionary spending pass the following three tests: 1) Is it a proper function of government? 2) Is it a necessity? 3) Can we afford it? Programs not meeting these criteria should be eliminated or significantly scaled back. Arizona has acquired a budget deficit because spending far outpaced tax revenues. Higher taxes will only push the Arizona economy into a steeper decline thus further lowering tax revenues. Lower taxes are needed to provide the boost to the economy that is necessary for a full economic recovery.
Should the state expand government services to help those who lack health care? What else can or should the state do in the face of rising health-care costs, particularly for those who are self-employed or run small businesses?
Medical professionals I have spoken with tell me that the number of physicians per capita in Arizona is below the national average and will continue to drop unless we enact sensible tort reform. Tort reform will reduce malpractice costs to physicians, encouraging more of them to practice in Arizona. Having more doctors, including more specialists, will result in a reduction of Health Insurance premiums for the rest of us. We must look at every option to expand medical choice to include non-profit Health Care Associations to pool risk and expand Health Savings Accounts to encourage competition. Government involvement in health care should be limited to providing a safety net to the poorest segment of the population and those high-risk patients with chronic illnesses that are unable to obtain insurance.
Do you support the constitutional amendment on this year's ballot defining marriage as between one man and one woman?
My wife and I have been married for 17 years. I believe that marriage is an important institution that strengthens society and I support it.
What should the state's role be when it comes to controlling immigration and mitigating its effects?
Well regulated and legal immigration has had a positive effect on the U.S. and I support people from all around the world coming here legally. I do not support illegal immigration. Arizona should be a partner with the federal government to promote orderly, legal immigration while providing a strong deterrence to stop illegal immigration. The motivation is simple. Arizona and its communities are wilting under the intense economic pressure brought about by illegal immigration and a porous border. It impacts our schools, our hospitals, our criminal justice system and it costs Arizona taxpayers billions every year. Enacting common-sense measures and fully enforcing the laws to deal with illegal immigration is in the state's own best interests; for economic and quality of life reasons. The employer-sanctions law and eliminating sanctuary city policies are some ways Arizona can deal with the problem.
What policies can or should be passed at the state level to address clean air, water and natural open space preservation concerns?
Clean air, water, and the preservation of natural open space are vitally important to our quality of life and our tourism industry. As an avid hunter and fisherman in the state of Arizona, I intend to be very proactive in preserving habitat and protecting the environment so future generations can enjoy our forests and deserts as well as the wildlife they support. I will work to find a balance between our need to grow our economy and to protect our environment through the use of sound conservation principles. I will seek input from the public and experts in doing so. Together we'll look out for our environment and the needs of our growing state.
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