Assembly candidate Pete Livermore declined to say whether he believes $3 billion can be cut from the state budget, saying it's up to the winner of the governor's race to present lawmakers with a spending plan.
"I'm not quite sure if the budget is $3 billion short or $1.8 billion short," he said. "Both governor's candidates say they can balance the budget. I'm looking to the executive branch that's going to put the budget together."
Livermore, the Republican candidate for the Assembly District 40 seat which encompasses most of Carson City, said funding education is first with health and human services and public safety close behind and that, after that, "we need to look at what services we're mandated to do."
He said he personally would be more inclined to look at cuts, consolidations and efficiencies than raising taxes.
"I'm not going to be one to just spend money because it feels good," he said. "I'd look more to stimulate the economy to raise revenue. The way to make revenues come is to reinvigorate the economy."
Formerly the owner of Carson City's A&W restaurant franchise, Livermore said one place he would push for change is in reducing regulations on business.
"I'd work with individuals to bring about a way to spend money on employees rather than fees and licenses," he said. "Regulations are just like taxes: They cost you money."
He said private sector organizations and associations are capable of "self-reporting and inspecting."
"My franchise did a lot more inspections than the health department did," he said. "The private sector is capable of doing these inspections."
Asked about the abuses uncovered in the banking industry and other areas when regulation was relaxed, Livermore said, "there are bad apples in any batch; that's why we've got auditors."
Livermore said he supports more freedom for schools to control their own destiny and more home rule for local governments as well.
"I'm a firm believer in vouchers, charter schools," he said.
He said his wife is a teacher's aide at Carson City's Montessori School and he believes that type of program is where public schools in Nevada should be headed.
He said local governments shouldn't get completely free rein but definitely need more home rule. He said his 12 years experience as a Carson supervisor gives him the knowledge to present local government's side in the Legislature.
Along that line, he called for more local control over the location and installation of wind turbines, which he made clear he doesn't believe belong in certain neighborhoods. State law now prohibits local governments from blocking turbines even if they are barred by subdivision CC&Rs.
Livermore said it's important to maintain some partisan balance in the Legislature.
"I don't think it's healthy to have the majority party be a super-majority over the minority party," he said. "You have to have the ability to have enough numbers that the majority has to communicate with you."
Democrats now have a super-majority in the Assembly.
Livermore and Robin Williamson are competing for the seat being vacated by Democrat Bonnie Parnell.