JoEtta Brown
Jo Etta Brown
Age: 66
Hometown: Gardnerville
Occupation: Corporate banker (retired)
Family: Married 47 years, 4 children, 6 grandchildren
Political background: Democrat, through my career and community activism 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 nine other states. I also testified before the Nevada Legislature in favor of the Canadian Importation Prescription Drug Bill, and several other major bills.
If elected, would you support going beyond the spending cap, approved by the Legislature in 1979 - which the Legislature is permitted to do by statute - or would you hold to the spending cap? If you would hold the spending cap, where would you cut? What programs, services or expenses do you believe the state can reduce?
The legislators have consistently balanced the budget and allocated funds in a sound fiscal manner. I am strongly in favor of fiscal responsibility and accountability. And I would hold to the spending cap.
However, the use of a "Base Budget" makes certain that the expenditures presented in the budget are based on the actual expenditure of the prior biennium plus "roll-up" costs (i.e. inflation).
Enhancements, new or expanded programs additional personnel, etc., are separately stated. This allows the legislators the flexibility to fund programs, services and expenses in a more equitable manner.
The state is looking at more than $3 billion in needs for transportation improvements, most of it in Southern Nevada. How should the state fund those projects or should it?
If infrastructure fees were properly assessed the $3 billion may not be needed, at least not such a large amount. We need to become proactive with our money management, not wait until a need such as transportation reaches a critical stage.
What sets you apart from your opponent?
I am the best candidate because I will be the guardian of the public's best interest. My constituents will be my only "special-interest group." 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, Incline, 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 need your support and ask for your vote to serve as your state assemblywoman.
Contact information:
Telephone: (775) 783-0929
E-mail: joetbro@aol.com
James Arnold Settelmeyer
Age: 35
Hometown: Douglas County
Occupation: Agriculturalist
Family: Wife, Sherese; daughters Caitlyn and Sabrina
Political background: Republican, chairman of Carson Valley Conservation District, chairman Nevada State Conservation Commission, member of Farm Service Agency County Committee.
If elected, would you support going beyond the spending cap, approved by the Legislature in 1979 - which the Legislature is permitted to do by statute - or would you hold to the spending cap? If you would hold the spending cap, where would you cut? What programs, services or expenses do you believe the state can reduce?
Paying off some of the liability the state has is taking care of a bill, the necessary shoring up of programs that have made promises that as of today it can not keep. No services or programs should need to be reduced.
The state is looking at more than $3 billion in needs for transportation improvements, most of it in Southern Nevada. How should the state fund those projects or should it?
If the warrants show that a new road is necessary then it is in the interest of public safety to build them. The discussion of how to pay for them will likely follow previous discussions.
Hopefully the DOT budget has already planned for the projects they have known of for some time.
What sets you apart from your opponent?
I am the only candidate who has the experience of walking and working the halls at the Capitol, addressing state concerns for over half of the last decade.
Contact information:
Telephone: 450-6114
E-mail Jamesforad39@charter.net
Web site: www.jamesforad39.org