Paul Yoder

Yoder, Paul (Republican)

Phone: (602) 335-0324

Email: paul2010az@yahoo.com

Website: www.paul4azrep2010.com

2920 W. Flynn Ln., Phoenix, AZ 85017

Age: 58 (8/29/51, Phoenix, AZ).

Arizona since: Birth.

Occupation: Director, music and liturgy, St. Clement of Rome Catholic Church, since 1998; pastoral associate, music, Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 1998; director of music and liturgy, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1996-98.

Marital: Divorced.

Children: 2.

Religious preference: Catholic.

Education: M.M., opera performance, Boston University, 1978; B.M., choral music, ASU, 1974; South Mountain High School, 1969.

Memberships have included: Sacred Music Association of America; American Guild of Organists; American Citizens United.

Interests: Music and theater; Roman Catholic Liturgy; citrus tree grafting.

Political influence: Ronald Reagan.

Budget recommendations: Cut expenditures, enforce the sunset laws. Re-examine all departments for duplication of efforts and streamline wherever possible. Drastic unification of school districts. Re-evaluate higher education expenditures, possibly eliminating duplication of some departments among the three universities and reduction of staff. Look into privatization of some penal institutions. Re-examine all social services rolls to insure that ineligible parties are not receiving benefits. Increase revenue: Look into privatizing rest stops and some smaller park areas. Aggressively recruit new employers who can bring blue and white-collar jobs. Evaluate ways to end the foreclosure spiral that is keeping too many houses without owners.

Other concerns: Education, foreclosure and unemployment issues.

Fiscal philosophy: I am against deficits and always on the lookout for ways to streamline government, eliminating levels of bureaucracy, or other self-propagating departments that tend to bloat the system and make it less responsive to the general public. (Again, enforcing sunset laws) Recurring necessities (education for example) should receive their funding from traditional taxes (income/property/sales) without resorting to gimmicks like lotteries or photo radar. A smaller government is a more efficient one in my book.

Background & experience: As a conductor and artistic director of a performing arts organization that experienced exponential growth during my 9 year tenure, I have had to plan multi-year budgets and learn how to pare costs in lean years while anticipating expansion in future years. My networking and team working skills are excellent. As a professional performer I am used to being in the public eye and can communicate effectively in any situation. I’m not afraid to tackle difficult problems and can readily draw on my creativity to find innovative solutions. Coming from the arts, I tend to think outside the box, which will provide a valuable contrast to people coming from more traditional venues.

Proposition 100 sales tax: My first priority is to ensure that schools, police and fire personnel have the funding necessary to continue serving the public and I would have seen that they were fully funded from the general fund. A sales tax to pay for their services would not have been necessary and I did not favor this tactic.

Pro-life/pro-choice: Pro-life.

One last thing: A native Phoenician, I got a great start in the public education system. After earning degrees in music and the performing arts from ASU as well as other institutions, I went to Europe to begin what was to become an 18 year career as a professional opera/concert singer. My experience in other countries has given me a unique perspective on immigration. In addition, living and working abroad has shown me both the benefits and shortfalls of a way of life in which government provides an extended network of benefits to residents. Above all, my experiences have shown me that I possess the people skills necessary to work together with my fellow legislators to re-create the institutions that are no longer efficiently serving us here in our state. Unless this situation is immediately addressed, future generations in Arizona may well be at a disadvantage compared to residents in states where leaders have successfully negotiated solutions to the current dilemmas facing us. I would like to be part of that process.

Campaign Finance: public.