Steve Montenegro put on hold his dream of attending law school to campaign for legislative office. Instead of reaching for a cap and gown, the only Hispanic member of the Republican House caucus now intends to help unite the GOP and Arizona’s Hispanic community, two groups he believes are natural allies.
Montenegro said he understands the gravity and complexity of his new job. He recognizes the need to find a long-term solution to the state’s budget deficit, and he hopes the Legislature will find a balance between focusing on the budget and still addressing the numerous other concerns of the state, such as immigration.
Montenegro defeated Democrats Eve Nunez and David Scanlon in November with 26.1 percent of the vote. The former district representative for U.S. Rep. Trent Franks joins Rep. Jerry Weiers in representing the West Valley’s District 12. The freshman legislator will serve on the Judiciary Committee and as vice chair of the Government Committee.
With your experience with Congressman Franks, did you always plan on running for the Legislature?
No, actually I didn’t. In the beginning of 2007, the party recruited me. The Republican Party asked me to run, and it wasn’t my plan. My plan has always been law school, and it still is, but I had to make a decision last August whether I wanted to go to law school or whether I wanted to run for office. After talking with my family, my fiancé and prayer, I came to the decision that it was the right thing for me to do. There is a reason why they are coming to me, and I decided to run.
You have run several election campaigns on behalf of Congressman Franks. Was running your own election campaign much different?
My experiences prepared me well, but it is different because I had to remember that I am the candidate. You work so hard, and at the same time you have to understand that there are those certain things candidates have to do, as a candidate. They have to be careful what they say.
But I guess we were very well-organized. I worked together with (Rep.) Jerry Weiers. We had a lot of support. A lot of volunteers came out to help. That made a difference. And having the congressman, as well, made a difference. The biggest thing for me was making sure we continued to work hard and remember that I was the candidate. You get out there and you work so hard that sometimes you forget.
Do you plan on introducing bills this legislative session or do you just hope to observe for the first year?
My goal all along has been to make sure I voice the opinions and the concerns of the people of the district where I am now. The people in my district are wonderful people. Talking to so many of them, I have gotten a good solid base of what it is that they want.
I think that going to the Legislature, voicing their opinion and standing for what they believe is right and what they want is my main concern. I am not a person to try to be loud or try to be obnoxious. But I do like to approach things in the best way. When it comes time to speak, I want to make sure I speak for the people of District 12.
What particular issues do you feel you have been elected to advocate for?
The number one thing is the budget. People are definitely worried and are very concerned that we are in such a mess because of poor budgeting or spending habits. The number one thing people want to see is to stop the wasteful spending.
We need to bring responsibility to government. One of my desires as an incoming legislator is to make sure they understand that the people from my district and from the state want responsibility. They want us to live within our means. They don’t want us to go in there raising taxes or growing government. They want us to make sure we understand what responsibility is, fiscal responsibility.
Immigration is an issue that is still great. Of course, people now are worried about taxes and the budget. But standing for border security is still a top issue. I will always stand strong on that because I believe it is the right thing and I believe it is the thing people from District 12 elected me to do. Just like education and transportation. They are all very important.
Do you support the schedule suggested by (Senate) leadership that all non-budget related issues be pushed aside until a solution to the deficit is found?
We are in a crisis. The budget is the central focus. It is the number one thing we have to take care of. Everything else is subject to the budget. So, absolutely I think the budget is the first and foremost thing we need to deal with. Making sure that we balance the budget and do everything we can to bring responsibility in that sense.
Every other issue, they are important, we will address them, but for now, the budget takes center stage.
What, in your mind, is the best way to address the budget shortage?
It is a very, very difficult decision-making process we are facing. But that is why we are elected — to make sure we take these tough decisions and make the decisions that are right. I am convinced there is so much unnecessary spending in the budget that the state cannot afford right now.
Can you give me an example of unnecessary spending?
We really have to look at all the things. I can’t specify because right now we are getting briefed about all the numbers.
There are more than a 142 agencies, and, for the vital success of our state, we don’t need everything all the time. We need to make sure we look at every agency. Every agency is going to have to work with us. We all, as a state, are going to have to make some sacrifices.
We are going to have to. People understand the economic crisis we are in. It is only going to get worse. The next couple of years are going to be very difficult. But if we as government make the tough decisions that will bring us back within our budget, we are going to be OK. We are going to have to take those steps.
With a Republican in the Governor’s Office this year, do you anticipate easier budget discussions?
I wouldn’t say easier at all. The challenge ahead of us is insurmountable. There are so many other legislators who are leaving who are telling us, “You guys just have a huge challenge ahead of you.” There is no word to explain what we are facing.
But at the same time, as Republicans, as conservatives, we have to do what we said we were going to do. We have to go back to the role of government. We have to be the party of smaller government. We have to be a government of less regulation; a government that helps growth not by growing government, but by allowing citizens to decide what they are going to do with their investments, with their money, with their hard-earned dollars.
Now, we are going to have to get creative. Everywhere I look, people are saying, “I don’t know what you are going to do. There is no way, there is no way, there is no way.”
Without a doubt we are going to have to kick it into gear and get creative. Across the board, we are all going to have to make sacrifices.
Beyond the budget, what is the second issue you plan to push for this session?
Well, property taxes, personal property taxes. Those are areas where people need relief. In an economy like this, the worst thing you can do is raise taxes. I am going to do what I can to make sure I look out for the taxpayers in the state and in my district.
Another area is to fight against crime. We need to continue to allow our men and women who serve to have the too
ls to do their job. We are noticing a wave of crime that is happening throughout the West Valley. We need to make sure our law enforcement agencies have what they need and have the ability to do what they can.
Again, securing the border is a high priority. I am confident that if we allow law enforcement to do their job and bring sound policy in that area, we are going to help rid ourselves of some of this crime. We have to take back our streets. We have to take back our neighborhoods.
Are you in favor of a guest-worker program?
This is an area that we have to make sure we show secure borders first. Without secure borders, we really can’t look at guest-worker programs because we don’t know who is coming in and out. We need to know who is coming in and out of our state, of our country. Then we can look at other issues, if necessary.
You have worked on immigration at the federal level with Congressman Franks. How much of a role should the state be taking on regarding this federal issue?
The number one thing we have to remember is that the federal government has not been very successful and has not been enforcing its own laws. We as the state are the ones that suffer the consequences. We as a state do have certain sovereign rights. We have to be looking out for the people of our state. If we have to make decisions to get the point across to the federal government, then so be it. We have to make sure we are looking out for the people of our state.
When it comes to border security, you are not just talking about illegal immigration. You are talking about weapons that are coming across, child trafficking. Child trafficking is one that I cannot understand why we are letting it happen. These are threats, serious threats, in the times in which we live in. If we don’t have a border that is secure, if we don’t have a border that we know what and who is coming in and out, then we are bringing peril to the state.
Let’s turn to the dynamics at the Legislature. Last year there was division in the Republican caucus as members believed the majority did not speak entirely for the group. Do you foresee that as a problem again this year?
I believe that there is a good, solid number of Republicans this year. The people spoke, and the people have sent us there.
I do believe there is a good feeling in the caucus of unity and strength and purpose right now with the budget. We believe in the Republican ideals. That is where I will stand, and it looks like there are a lot of people on board.
What do you think about the decision to elect of Kirk Adams as the House speaker?
You know, that is who we elected. We stand strong together, united as a caucus to make things happen and move forward.
What is your relationship with your seatmate, Jerry Weiers, and how do you think that relationship will affect your district’s representation?
We stand very closely on the issues, and I look forward to working with him.
He has given me a lot of words of wisdom. The one thing he has told me the most that sticks out is just to make sure I know what is going on and stand for my values. I could probably stay here for hours telling you all the advice he has given me. He is a man of common sense. A man who does what he says he is going to do. He is a man of no nonsense.
When we are able to vote and represent the people in District 12 in the way I am looking forward to doing with Jerry, you have actually something getting done. You don’t have someone canceling out the other person’s vote. I think it is going to be a tremendous help for the people of District 12.
You have been assigned to serve on the Government and Judiciary committees. Are you at all concerned about these assignments?
For any freshman legislator, I think, nerves always kick in. We are nervous because we understand the gravity of what we are facing. But is not a nervousness of feeling left back or unable. On the contrary, it is the type that emboldens you and helps you understand what time it is. It is time to make sure we stand for what we said we were going to do.
I can say I am very excited about the two committees. These two committees, I think, are of interest to District 12. As the small-government, less-tax-and-regulation, more-personal-responsibility guy that I am and District 12 elected me to be, I feel those committees are great areas to serve the people.
Do you plan on introducing any bills?
There are a few. I am still working on them. One of the things we want to do is make sure taxpayers are protected. We have got to understand that small business is an area that is the backbone of our economy. There are a few bills I am looking at and considering introducing. There are a few constituents in my district who have great ideas of bills that need to be introduced, and I am looking forward to doing that. I don’t have labels or titles for them yet, but I do plan on introducing some.
How do you plan to protect the state’s business community?
It has been proven time and again, that when you bring incentives for small business, such as tax breaks, the business climate improves.
Now we have to make sure we are working within the budget. But when we do introduce and get creative in areas that are not open here in the state of Arizona, like solar energy, of course we need to create incentives and provide encouragement for businesses to come here.
You are coming into the Republican caucus from a different path. You are younger, Hispanic and your experience in government comes from your work at the federal level. What point of view or mindset could you bring to the caucus that might not exist now?
I am a product of the Republicans reaching out to Hispanics. Personally, I consider myself American first, American second and American third. But at the same time, I can speak in Spanish.
I believe one of the things we should be doing is reaching out to the Hispanic community. The values of the Republican Party are pretty much the Latino values. The family values, the entrepreneur and business values. If you look across the board, so many Hispanics are entrepreneurs. They are hard-working and want to make sure government stays out of their business.
I am looking forward to bringing more cultural articulation to the Hispanic community in Arizona. When we are able to articulate, not only translate, but articulate the Republican conservative values to the Hispanic communities, they will see that they match their own values. When we do that, we are going to be able to reach out to more of the Hispanic community. That is one of the ways I am looking forward to helping the caucus. As a legislator, I believe I have a lot to offer, a lot of new insights, a lot of boldness. That is why the people have sent me here.