Steve Farley

Steve Farley

Farley, Steve (Democrat)

Phone: (520) 320-0044

Email: sfarley@igc.org

2532 E. Helen St., Tucson, AZ 85716

Age: 47 (12/24/62, Upland, CA).

Arizona since: 1995.

Occupation: Self-employed small business owner since 1991.

Marital: Married (Kelly Paisley).

Children: 2.

Religious preference: Episcopal.

Education: B.A., political science, Williams College, 1985.

Political experience: Ran for Tucson City Council, 2005; Tucsonans for Sensible Transportation, 2003; Regional Transportation Authority Executive Committee member; spokesman for several city and county initiative measures; AZ House since 2007.

Memberships have included: Blenman-Elm Neighborhood Association; Democrats of Greater Tucson; Graphic Artists Guild; Nucleus Club; Pima Association of Governments Regional Transportation Plan Task Force, vice-chair; St. Paul’s Social Activism Committee; Stonewall Democrats; Transit On The Move Liaison Group; Tucson Downtown Alliance; Tucson Organic Gardeners.

Interests: Watching football, known public artist (completed a 4,000 sq. ft. tile mural in Tucson).

Issues:

Political influence: Mark Bogart, senior economist for the House Democratic staff. Every time I talk with him I learn something important.

Budget recommendations: I have more than 10 billion ways — eliminate corporate tax loopholes in the sales tax code. I am also interested in instituting a utility fee on the production of nonrenewable energy, half of which would be paid for by Californians and New Mexicans who buy half of our power — solar and other renewables would be exempt.

Other concerns: Creating jobs, economic opportunity, and sustainable development through transportation improvements that build stronger communities, especially public transit, light rail, intercity rail, and commuter rail. Fighting to extend quality affordable health care to all, especially sole proprietors and other small business owners and employees.

Fiscal philosophy: All we need to do is sit down with other interested legislators, determine a fair level of revenues required to provide the services our citizens demand, and determine which taxes should be lowered and which should be increased in order to obtain those revenues in the fairest possible manner.

Background & experience: I have been a legislator for the past four years, and a small business owner for the last 19 years. I know how the legislative system works, I know many of the key players, and I have been House Democratic Policy Leader for the past two years. I also know the struggles facing small business in this state, and I know personally how hard it is for a small business to locate affordable health insurance. My business brings me to other states where I observe directly what other legislatures are doing well or poorly, information that is very useful here in Arizona.

Proposition 100 sales tax: It stinks that Republicans have only given us this one tool to mitigate the wholesale slashing of our education system and social services safety net that they have already begun to undertake. We are already too dependent on sales taxes – that’s part of why we are in this mess. However, I believe we need to hold our noses and vote “yes” in order to avoid even worse cuts in the future. It is not a permanent solution — that will involve electing a different majority in November and attacking the $10 billion in corporate tax loopholes in our tax code.

Pro-life/pro-choice: It should be rare but freely available to those women who choose it. Government should not insert itself between a woman and her doctor.

One last thing: I am also a public artist who creates large tile works all over the country. My most prominent pieces to date are the Broadway Underpass historical murals on Broadway just east of Downtown Tucson, which have been chosen as Best Murals in the Tucson Weekly’s reader poll eleven years in a row. Both politics and art at their best can help build a stronger community – that is my life goal.

Campaign Finance: private.