Al Melvin

Al Melvin

Melvin, Al (Republican)

Phone: (520) 429-8083

Email: almelvin3@gmail.com

38665 S. Sand Crest Dr., Tucson, AZ 85739

Age: 65 (11/3/44).

Arizona since: 2002.

Occupation: Owner, American Quality International Consulting, 2003-08; adjunct lecturer, UofA, University of Phoenix, Western International University, 2003-08; ships officer, American Maritime Officers, 1999-03; captain, U.S. Navy (active duty), 1997-99.

Marital: Married (Kou Marie).

Religious preference: Catholic.

Education: Degree, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, RI, 2004; MBA, Thunderbird-American Graduate School of International Management, 1972; B.S., U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY, 1969.

Political experience: Republican Candidate for Arizona Senate LD26, 2006; Republican precinct committeeman, 2004-08; AZ Senate since 2009.

Memberships have included: Rotary; Elks Club; Veterans of Foreign Wars; American Legion; Northern Pima County Chamber of Commerce; Marana Chamber of Commerce; Military Officers Association of America; Naval League of the United States; NRA; Reserve Officers Association; Naval Reserve Association; National Eagle Scout Association.

Interests: Golf, hiking, hunting.

Issues:

Political influence: Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan are the most influential people in my political development because they personify vision, leadership and integrity in public office. I strive every day to bring these three critical traits to the Arizona Senate.

Budget recommendations: 1) We must continue to reduce the size of government in Arizona. It took 90 years (1912-02) to reach an annual general fund budget of $6.5 billion. It only took six years (2002-08) to almost double it to $11.2 billion. We need to go back to the 2005 budget level of spending, to work our way out of this recession. The state budget is the same as an individual family budget in that spending should not exceed income. 2) We need to look at privatizing some state government operations. For instance, we can keep all 30 state park facilities open by putting their operation out to a competitive, private management bid. There are several companies that do this for a living, including at least one based in Arizona. 3) All levels of government in Arizona can save substantial amounts of money by using inmate labor to fix pot holes, paint over graffiti, refurbish buildings, work in animal care facilities, maintain parks, pick up litter on highways, maintain vehicles, etc. The potential in savings is in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Inmates who are engaged in these work programs have a recidivism rate that is half of those who are not in a work program.

Other concerns: 1) I want to make Arizona one of the most prosperous states in the U.S., with great jobs for everyone who wants to work. We can do this by having plentiful and affordable electricity through atomic energy and plentiful and affordable water through desalination projects with California and Mexico. Palo Verde is the atomic energy facility west of Phoenix. With three reactors, it is the largest facility of its kind in the U.S. We need three or four additional state of the art atomic energy facilities, similar to Palo Verde, in Arizona. (2) By being the most atomic energy friendly state in the U.S., we can have the very best education system in the country. Our youth will have a renewed interest in engineering careers and will pursue math and science courses at all levels of their education. By pursuing atomic energy recycling, we can have a long term funding source for education in Arizona for decades and generations to come.

Fiscal philosophy: I believe that we need more taxpayers and less taxes. I believe in smaller, more responsive government. We need true tort reform in Arizona. We are one of only three states that do not have a cap on pain and suffering. When Texas adopted true tort reform six years ago, three things happened. Lawyers started leaving the state, doctors started arriving and businesses flourished. We can and need to do the same thing in Arizona.

Background & experience: I served in the U.S. Naval Reserve for 30 years, retiring as a Captain. I worked in the area of international transportation for 40 years and continue to work in this field as a consultant. I have a MBA from the Thunderbird Graduate School of International Business in Glendale. I have a track record of effective people skills and a long list of accomplishments. I know how to get things done that benefit the people of Arizona. I know we can secure our border with Mexico. The current porous border is costing the people of Arizona over $2 billion per year in illegal alien costs related to education, incarceration and hospitalization. We have a moral obligation to stop the deaths in the desert and S1070 will go a long way in saving these lives. We need some guest workers. They should be coming here on air conditioned buses with proper work visas instead of dying in the desert.

Proposition 100 sales tax: I voted to put this issue on the ballot on May 18, so the taxpayers of Arizona can decide if they want this tax or not. I believe that this tax, if it goes into effect, will eliminate over 15,000 private-sector jobs and will cut the buying power of the average Arizona family by close to $500 a year. I am not in favor of this tax increase because I believe it will delay the economic recovery of Arizona. I believe that we can continue to save money for the state by privatizing some areas like state parks, by eliminating waste and fraud in state programs, by attracting businesses to Arizona. The last thing people on fixed incomes need now is an additional tax.

Pro-life/pro-choice: As a conservative Republican and as a Catholic, I strongly believe in the sanctity of all human life, from conception to natural death. As an American, I believe in the protection of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

One last thing: I believe that we live in the finest nation in the world and that Arizona is blessed by world class weather and geography. I believe that we must take our country back in the 2010 election by making Arizona a safe haven from socialized medicine, excessive spending and bigger, more intrusive government. I believe that we can and must secure our border with Mexico to protect the life, liberty and property of our citizens. I am a former teacher and I believe that education is the civil rights issue of this century. I am an Eagle Scout and I strive to live my life according to the Scout Oath and Law. As a Rotarian, I believe in the four way test of the things that we should think, say and do in our daily lives. It is an honor to represent the over 200,000 people in LD26 at the Arizona Senate.

Campaign Finance: private.