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| Affiliation | Democratic |
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| Name | John A. Kromko |
| Address |
Tucson, Arizona , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
00, 1940
(84 years)
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| Contributor | Thomas Walker |
| Last Modifed | David
May 24, 2020 03:39pm |
| Tags |
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| Info | Name: John A. Kromko
Party registration: Democrat
Occupation/employer: Retired.
Family: Mother, 2 sisters, brother.
Religion: I'm shocked that you'd ask.
Income: Fixed.
Residence: Tucson.
Education: BS, electrical engineering; MBA, economics; secondary education, math; Ph.D. (ABD), statistics.
Offices held/run for: In Legislature, 14 years. Ran for county supervisor, justice of the peace
Civic activities and organizations: Pima Association of Taxpayers (president), Sierra Club, Audubon, League of Women Voters, West University Neighborhood Association (founding member), League of Conservation Voters, many others.
Why are you running? We need more politicians with courage, who don't just go along with the flow. I disagree with my opponents on major issues. I oppose tax money to build a baseball stadium; I oppose extending Rio Nuevo without a vote of the people. I oppose the governor's freeway/tax scheme.
The biggest issue facing my constituents (or potential constituents) is: Biggest issue for my constituents, and the whole country, is the lack of a free and independent press. The media are controlled by a small handful of people who have their own agenda and have favorite candidates. Candidates like Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich were really saying something; too bad the public never got a chance to hear what it was. The right to vote is worthless if the voters are denied information.
Favorite local hangout: I never hang out.
NPR or Fox? NPR, although I virtually never listen to radio or watch TV. I subscribe to several newspapers and 23 magazines.
How long have you lived in Arizona? 45 years.
What kind of vehicle do you drive? What kind of mileage does it get? Honda 27 mpg. Sure, I'd like a hybrid, but like most people, I'm driving an old car that I can afford.
If I could have dinner with any living person, I would choose: Nelson Mandela or Castro — what a life they've had.
If I had my own reality show, it would be titled: I have never seen any reality show. I don't understand the meaning of the question.
First job: Pin setter in a bowling alley, as I recall.
Taxes: In general, do you see tax cuts as a good way to grow the economy during the economic downturn, or would you prefer to either raise taxes or see them stay the same to avoid cutting government programs?
Probably a steady course is best under these economic conditions.
Education: What kind of policy would you support to improve the standing of Arizona schools in comparison to the rest of the nation?
In our country, and especially in Arizona, we have shifted the burden of taxation from business to the middle class. Years ago, one-third of government revenue came from corporate income tax. Now, the corporate income tax rate is virtually zero. The failure of business to pay its fair share leaves the middle class overtaxed and education (and other social programs) underfunded. We need to level the playing field.
Transportation: Do you support or oppose the proposed 1-cent-per-dollar sales tax increase to pay for new roads and public transit?
This is an outrage. A 1-cent sales tax is huge, $200 per person per year (about $500 per family). So people will pay for freeways when they buy shoes for their kids, but the big truck on that freeway will contribute nothing (gasoline is exempt from sales tax). Many of the proposed projects for Pima County are already supposed to be funded by the RTA sales tax that we just passed (or maybe didn't).
Businesses will push hard for this, since businesses don't pay sales taxes.
Economy: The state's budget shortfall next year may be in the neighborhood of $2 billion. How would you balance the state's financial obligations with the constitutional requirement that
Arizona have a balanced budget?
As pointed out above, if all taxpayers paid their fair share, there wouldn't be any financial crisis. Large cotton farms near Tucson are pumping huge amounts of pure groundwater (for free, while we drink chemical brew) and exporting 95 percent of their product.
Property tax: $0 (priceless).
Health care: Should the state expand government services to help those who lack health care? What other possible help could there be for Arizonans in the face of rising health-care costs, particularly for those who are self-employed or run small businesses?
Years ago, Arizona was the only state without a health-care plan for the poor. The Legislature failed to act, so I started the petition drive that gave us the ACCCHS program. If I'm elected, I'll start a petition for universal health care. Everyone will be covered, and the cost of health care will go down because of efficiency. There will be far fewer trips to the emergency room, expensive delayed treatment, no insurance (or insurance company profits), advertising, claims, far fewer lawsuits, and far less paperwork.
Marriage: Do you believe that marriage is only between a man and a woman? If the answer is yes, do you support defining it that way in the Arizona Constitution?
I certainly wouldn't support putting this, or anything like it, into our constitution. I find it ironic that people who talk about freedom a lot often seem to support more government intrusion into our personal lives.
Immigration: Several proposals have passed on the state level to deal with illegal immigration. In general, what should the state's role be when it comes to controlling immigration and mitigating its effects?
The state is forced to act because Congress clearly is refusing to do anything at all. The state law that penalizes businesses that hire illegals is good. I hope that Jim Click's ballot proposition to weaken that law doesn't pass.
Environment: "The environment" follows "immigration" as the top concern of Arizonans in most public opinion polls. What policies, if any, can be passed at the state level to address these widespread concerns?
We need a major push in public transit and in alternative energy, not the nickel-and-dime programs that we have now. There is considerable "misdirection," as major polluters constantly run "green" advertising. We need people like me in office to point out that global warming is mentioned in the news almost every day, but its cause, overpopulation, is never mentioned.
Civility: What is one issue where you see the potential to work with members of the opposite political party on legislation? How would you build support?
When I was in the Legislature, I often worked with the most conservative members to defend our liberty, our constitution and our personal freedoms. That's really needed today.
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