Kit Filbey

Kit Filbey

Filbey, Kit (Democrat)

Phone: (480) 319-4004

Email: kit@voteforkit.com

Website: www.voteforkit.com

3409 E. Downing St, Mesa, AZ 85213

Age: 65 (4/7/45, Evanston, IL).

Arizona since: 2004.

Occupation: President, Maxion Systems, LLC, since 2007; vice president of sales, National Glass and Gate, 1998-07.

Marital: Divorced (Partner: Paul Ingle, retired science teacher).

Children: 2.

Religious preference: Unity.

Education: B.F.A., art education, University of Denver, 1967.

Political experience: Chair, LD19 Democrats; vice chair, Maricopa County Democratic Party, chair, Greater Eastern Maricopa Democrats; U.S. District 6 delegate to the Democratic National Convention, 2008; member, Board of Education, Joint School Dist #1, Towns of Boulder Junction, Manitowish Waters, Presque Isle and Winchester (Northern Wisconsin).

Memberships have included: Mesa Chamber of Commerce, Public Policy Committee; Mesa Baseline Rotary Club, Mesa’s Museum & Cultural Advisory Board; East Valley Women in Politics; Superstition Toastmasters Club; League of Women Voters; Emerge Arizona, alumna; Mesa Leadership Training & Development, alumna; Delta Gamma Fraternity.

Interests: Politics, travel, painting, writing, reading, cooking, gardening, and most importantly my grandchildren.

Issues:

Political influence: When I moved to Arizona in 2004 I met Kathleen Rahn, who was then the chair of LD19. Kathleen has been a great friend and adviser. Because of her influence, I changed my registration from independent to Democrat. She encouraged me to use my leadership skills in LD19 as chair. Later Kathleen encouraged me to participate in Emerge Arizona, which is a training program for Democratic women leaders interested in running for political office.

Budget recommendations: Our tax code needs to be adjusted to eliminate tax loopholes. The budget cuts we make must be the result of analysis of existing expenses rather than across-the-board cuts. We need to invest more in auditors and tax collectors. Their cost is minimal compared to the revenue they will generate for our state. We need to cut the budgets for the House and the Senate. At the time when there were across-the-board cuts to state budgets, our legislators refused to cut their own budgets. Even when the speaker of the House had a six-million-dollar surplus from 2009, he refused to cut his own budget.

Other concerns: Quality education: Curriculum and instructional decisions should be made at local levels, not by the Legislature; standards must be put in place for all schools receiving tax dollars, and all schools must be held accountable. We must reform Arizona’s tax structure to provide adequate resources for meeting our obligation to provide quality public education both for the future of our youth and the future of Arizona as a desirable and marketable location for business. Jobs: We need to develop a long-range bipartisan economic-development strategy, create targeted business tax incentives, and drive research and development for alternate energy and biotechnology in Arizona.

Fiscal philosophy: I am fiscally conservative. Conservative means spending the money we have wisely rather than simply not spending. I believe in making common sense solutions that reflect our future needs as well as our immediate needs.

Background & experience: My diverse background allows me to see issues from several perspectives. I am a former teacher, a former member of a board of education, a business person and am active in the Mesa Chamber of Commerce. I have lived in both urban and rural communities. I have worked with Native American communities and been awarded the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Award for significant Contributions to Indian Communities. I know the realities of domestic abuse and the struggles of being a single mother. I raised my children from the ages of 12 and 13 by myself without any support or public assistance. The love of my life, Paul Ingle, is a low-level quadriplegic. My brother has cerebral palsy and is developmentally challenged. I have been a Republican, an independent, and now am a Democrat. Common sense solutions require a broad understanding of issues and people as well as the ability to work productively with individuals with different points of view.

Proposition 100 sales tax: I voted for it. Although it is a regressive tax, we needed a way to fund public education.

Pro-life/pro-choice: I am not for abortion, nor do I believe in government interference into our personal lives.

One last thing: I will work with an open mind for Arizona, not for an ideology. Our Constitution was written by individuals who were willing to compromise. I will follow in the footsteps of our forefathers.

Campaign Finance: public.