J.D. Mesnard

J.D. Mesnard

Mesnard, J.D. (Republican)

Phone: (480) 650-4509

Email: jdmesnard@gmail.com

Website: www.jdmesnard.com

1427 W. Homestead Ct., Chandler, AZ 85286

Age: 30 (5/15/80, Tampa, FL).

Arizona since: 1990.

Occupation: Policy adviser, Arizona State Senate, 2002-09; consultant; investor; small business owner; teacher at Mesa Community College.

Marital: Single.

Religious preference: Christian.

Education: MBA, University of Phoenix, 2006; Master’s degree, public administration, Keller Graduate School of Management, 2002; bachelor’s degree, music composition, ASU, 2000.

Political experience: Precinct committeeman.

Memberships have included: Homestead HOA board; advisory member, National Center for Policy Analysis.

Interests: Music, play the piano.

Issues:

Political influence: Ken Bennett. I worked for him when he was Senate president, and I have the utmost respect for him in terms of his character and political philosophy.

Budget recommendations: I do believe in revenue increases, but I don’t believe in revenue increases when they come in the form of tax increases. I’d rather have more people paying taxes than people paying more taxes, and we do that by bringing more people to Arizona and more jobs to Arizona, and by lowering taxes on the people we hire.

Other concerns: My priorities would be tax reform – a tax system that people can understand and a property tax system that works. And education finances – more money needs to go to structural staff salaries. So, I’d love to find a way to increase teacher salaries even if that means lesser services get squeezed.

Fiscal philosophy: Keep taxes and regulations lower and fewer. Let the free market system do its thing.

Background & experience: I’ve helped freshman legislators through the learning curve during my time at the Legislature. I won’t have a learning curve, and I can write my own bills, which is what I’ve been doing for the last eight years. I know the system, I know where to go, and I know what needs to be done.

Proposition 100 sales tax: I opposed the tax increase because I don’t think it’s right or fair to use kids and educators, fire and police officers as pawns in a budget debate. They are the priority. They don’t need to be the first thing on the chopping block.

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

One last thing: I will always listen to [voters]. I don’t promise that we’ll agree on every issue, but I will listen to you and always be straight up with you.

Campaign Finance: private.