Karyn Lathan

Democrat
Candidate for Arizona House in Legislative District 17
Phone: (602) 796-4901
Email: karyn@karynforazhouse.com
Website: www.karynforazhouse.com
Twitter: @KarynforAzHouse
2600 E Springfield Pl, Unit 94, Chandler, AZ 85286.

Age: 51. (04/13/61, Tucson, AZ).

Arizona since: Birth.

Occupation: Partner, Advocacy Consulting Group, 2012; volunteer, victim advocate and trainer, 2007.

Marital: Partnered (Susie Thornton, nurse).

Religious preference: Taoist.

Education: B.S., business, public administration, University of Phoenix, expected 2013.

Political experience: Campaign manager, Rebecca Schneider, U.S. Congress, 2010.

Memberships: AZ Coalition of Victim Services; American Probation and Parole Assn; American Correctional Assn, Fraternal Order of Police.

Interests: Beading, motorcycle riding, cooking, traveling, volunteering.

Political influence: Peggy Bilsten. As a city of Phoenix councilman, she was known for being a moderate and working to resolve issues and not getting caught up in party politics. In a leadership position, you are there to work for the best outcome of all constituents.

Job creation measures: I would push for more solar and renewable energy in the state. Arizona should be the world leader in solar energy. Instead, the past Legislature tried to pass HB 2789 which would have had a very detrimental effect on clean jobs in Arizona. The second measure I would support would be incentives for hiring local workers. We import too many engineers due to not having a sustainable work force. We need to work with corporations to ensure we have the workforce that is needed for corporations to grow.

Top Issues: Social justice issues. Specifically I want to pass a bill to stop the plea bargaining of sex offenders to non sex offender crimes. Our communities are not safer when our county attorneys give plea bargains to sex offenders from sexual assault to aggravated assault. A background check will not show a sex offense and that offender can then work in our schools and day cares. That needs to stop! I will also work on restoring funding to public schools. All K-12 teachers regardless of public or charter should be certified teachers. Public, charter, and private schools should all have the same minimum qualifications and standards.

Prop 100 sales tax extension: I believe that should be determined by the voters and not the legislators, and the legislators should follow the will of the people. With that being said, I would personally vote to extend the sales tax. Until we can have a competitive economy without hurting the citizens of Arizona, we need to continue the increase. Stopping the sales tax would be like cutting off a leg in order to lose weight. It will reduce your weight for the immediate, but in the long run will only hurt your progress.

Illegal immigration: Immigration is a federal matter that has enormous effect on Arizona. Arizona needs to put pressure on our congressional leaders to tackle immigration reform. In the mean time, we need to prioritize our resources. We need to have an Arizona permit where immigrants can apply for a temporary state permit if they can show employment and no criminal arrests. They can start paying taxes to Arizona to cover social services programs such as schools and medical coverage.

Background & experience: As a law enforcement officer, parole officer and victim services advocate, I have seen and worked with all sides of an issue. There is never just one side and there is always unintended consequences. I have the experience of looking for those unintended consequences and looking at the whole picture to determine the best outcome for the community. [I also have] critical thinking skills. I believe that a representative should represent the people of both their own district and the well being of all Arizonans. I have the experience of working for the common good without polarizing politics.

Pro-life / pro-choice: The decision to terminate a pregnancy is a difficult one no matter what side of the issue you stand on. When a 14 year old is raped by her father and becomes pregnant, there is no right or wrong answer. There is mental anguish no matter what the decision. When a pregnancy is known to be in trouble and it becomes known that the baby will only last 3 or 4 days outside of the mother’s womb, that is a personal decision that should not be regulated by people who are not directly involved in that family’s lives. Abortion is a personal decision between a health care provider, the woman and her family.

One last thing: I believe in people before politics. One party does not have all the answers. I will, above all, act ethically and will honor your trust. Trust is a positive expectation that another will not act opportunistically – through words, actions, or decisions. I love Arizona and will do what is best for Arizona as a community, one that you will be proud to raise your family in. I am very proud to be from Arizona and live in an all-American city: Chandler, AZ. I would like to see our state Legislature run like the Chandler City Council, non-partisan, and doing the work for the people not personal interests.

Campaign finance: public.