Arizona Capitol Times Election Coverage Your Inside Track to Arizona Elections
No photo available
Saldate, Macario (Democrat)
Phone: (520) 336-4939
Email: msaldate@cox.net
Website: www.votemacariosaldate2010.info
3314 S. 12th Ave., Tucson, AZ 85713
Age: 68 (12/13/41, Nogales, AZ).
Arizona since: Birth.
Occupation: Professor, UofA, 1972-09.
Marital: Divorced.
Children: 2; 4 grandchildren.
Religious preference: Catholic. Education: Ph.D., education, UofA, 1972; master’s degree, UofA, 1967; bachelor’s degree, UofA, 1965.
Political experience: Pima Community College board, 1973-79.
Memberships have included: Chicano Por La Casa; Red Cross; Partners of Americas; National Association of Bilingual Educators; AZ Association of Chicano Professors.
Interests: Welding, ironwork, small construction projects.
Issues:
Political influence: I learned a lot from a colleague of mine, professor Abalerto Guerrero. But the person who had the greatest influence on me was a man named Brainard Douglas. He was a welding instructor, and he helped form me as a young man. He put me on the right path.
Budget recommendations: There needs to be an overall assessment of where revenues have been. In Arizona, we have been lowering the tax rate considerably, and that might have something to do with the budget crisis. I’m not saying we should raise taxes, but we should improve economic development of the state by doing more long-range planning on revenues and expenditures.
Other concerns: I’ve always been impressed with Arizona Town Hall. Basically what I saw recently in Town Hall is that they’ve focused on economic development and have recommended creating a long-range plan. A big emphasis was put on education, and we need to look at the economic conditions of Arizona and at the education we offer – and how they both interact.
Fiscal philosophy: It’s based on careful planning. I’m not an economist, and I can’t say I favor one philosophy or another, but I would be interested in looking at the major issues facing Arizona’s budget. We need more than short-range issues to deal with this economic condition. We need long-range planning. So I’m for long-term solutions, not short-term.
Background & experience: Henry Kissinger said he was prepared to be a politician because he had been working at a university for many years. Politics are part of every university. I come from a background that is favorably looked at, dealing with issues and understanding issues, making resolutions and listening to a variety of people. I look at the substance of the issue and include as many people as possible in the solutions of these problems.
Proposition 100 sales tax: I support it because we have very severe issues to deal with, primarily education. We cannot abandon children and poor people. And we can’t let the situation get any worse. It’s time now to long at long-range resolutions to issues.
Pro-life/pro-choice: It’s a hard one. I’m Catholic. At the same time, I’m pro-choice. I believe women should be given the right to decide the best circumstances for them.
One last thing: I have relationships with a good cross-section of people, and that’s one of my most valuable assets – the relationship with people. I want to represent the public well, but not on the basis of getting their votes. I want people to judge me on the substance of my actions.
Campaign Finance: public.