August 24, 2016

Market Freedom Alliance 2016 Candidate Questionnaire

Section 1: Biography

Name: Kevin Payne

Specific office running for (include district): AZ House LD21

Address: Peoria, AZ. 85345

Campaign Phone: 623-229-1439

Campaign E-Mail: [email protected]

Campaign Website: www.electkevinpayne.com

Facebook address: www.facebook.com/electkevinpayne

Occupation: Owner/operator K Star BBQ

Previous occupations: DSET Laboratories IT Manager since 1993.

Education: USNavy and three years at UOP with a 3.85 GPA.

Family: Married with four children and 7 grandchildren

What is your party registration and how long have you been registered as a member of that party: Republican since 1980.

Clubs/Organizations you currently belong to: I’m a PC in the LD21 Republican Party

Are you using public funds in your campaign:    NO I am not.

Section 2: Getting to know you

  1. If you could sum up your platform with three key issues, what would they be:

 Grow Economy – To grow the economy you must grow and create jobs.  This is best done with small business whether it is new startups, growing existing businesses or importing businesses from elsewhere.  We must keep the regulatory burden in check eliminating unnecessary regulation.  Finally, we must keep corporate taxes low and reduce where we can.  For too long AZ has been cutting individual taxes while ignoring corporate taxes. 

 Education – I believe in school choice which I think leads to competition between schools.  When you have competition you have improvement.  Arizona has three of the top ten schools in the nation so it’s not entirely a money issue.  We need to emulate those top schools and keep our best teachers.  AZ is ranked last in the nation for teacher pay so it is difficult, at best, to attract good teachers.  Along with increased pay comes increased accountability so we can ensure teachers and schools are performing to our standards.

Transportation – Another key for business in AZ is our highways.  AZ is in a great position to grow if we have a good highways, railways and modern airports.  If we can manufacture goods in AZ and export them elsewhere that would be good for AZ.  AZ could be a trade hub with Texas not far to our east, Mexico to our south and California to our west.   Goods could ship overseas via California, south to Mexico and all over the country via rail and interstate highways.  We must maintain our existing roadways and be ready to expand as needed.  

  1. Name one achievement, either professionally or personally, which you are most proud of: The opening of our family business.
  2. What are your thoughts on the current Presidential election: I was so exited by some of the candidates when it all started last summer.  However my candidate didn’t win, but I will support the one that did.

Section 3: ISSUES

1. What are your thoughts on Arizona’s sharing economy, specifically, do you believe that it needs more regulation or less regulation: Less regulation.

2. What are your views on companies like Uber and Lyft? Do you think there is merit in the argument that commercial hotels and car services are making that the sharing economy needs more regulation: I’d like to see the government stay out of it.  If people want to use those services so be it at their own risk.

3. Name two areas where you believe there is too much Government regulation (either on a state or federal level): The EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers are out of control.  At the state level and one that I have to deal with is the Maricopa County Health Department.  My wife and I started a family business last summer (2015) which is a mobile food kitchen called K Star Ranch BBQ, LLC. Since then we experienced first hand the burdensome regulations put on some businesses.  For example they regulate the size of our serving windows, whether they are self closing and if they have a wind screen or not.  They regulate the size of fresh water tanks, the material used to cover the interior walls, floors and ceiling.  The list goes on and on.

4. Do you believe that crony capitalism is a problem in Arizona? If so, how would you change that:  Yes.  I don’t believe in picking winners and losers.  If an idea or product is good it should not need subsidized.

5. Recently, many companies have left Arizona citing the lack of an employable workforce. Do you see this to be a true problem in Arizona and if so, what do you think can be done to fix it: I think it is a perception rather than a fact, however we must be able to overcome this perception.  I do believe most school districts under fund the classroom.  As stated above I believe the money should follow the student which leads to competition between the schools for the dollars.  I also believe that the school boards need to ensure the money goes to the classroom so AZ schools can compete with other states in bringing in the best teachers.  I also believe in pay for performance so if a teacher does well they should be rewarded.

6. Subsidies have become prevalent in our economy, often times artificially supporting an entire industry for extended periods of time. What are your views on subsidies:  I don’t like them.  A business or idea should be able to stand on it’s own without government assistance.

7. Is there an Arizona industry which you believe relies too much on subsides: Yes, solar companies.

8.  Do you think that Arizona should lower its corporate property tax with the goal of encouraging new businesses to move here? If so, what do you think the new rate should be: Yes I do.  I think the property tax is very complicated.  It needs to be reworked.  At the least property taxes should be level for all meaning that business and residential should be equal.

To learn more about Kevin, visit his website at www.electkevinpayne.com 




Kevin Payne is a Candidate for LD 21 House. He is running against Tony Rivero and Deanne Rasmussen-Lacotta ( D )