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Janice E. Arnold-Jones (i), Republican

Janice E. Arnold-Jones

The Job of State House of Representatives: Districts 24

Write state budget and craft laws affecting schools, prison and government agencies. Two-year term. Legislators are given $144 per diem for each day in session, along with mileage reimbursement. (i) denotes incumbent.

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Candidate for District 24 state representative

Name: Janice E. Arnold-Jones (i), Republican

Age: 54

Campaign Web site address: www.janicearnoldjones.com

Occupation: Manager, Parallax, Inc.

Family: Husband, two children, two cats

Education: Bachelor's, speech communication, University of New Mexico

Please list the experience you think would make you a good state representative.

Before I was elected to serve, I believed that my experience as a legislative intern in the New Mexico Legislature, my experience lobbying in other states, and my understanding of legislative process and parliamentary procedure would contribute to my being a good public servant.

While that turned out to be true, there are other experiences and attributes that were equally as or more important.

For example, attention to detail: I read the legislation. The expression "the devil is in the details" is especially true in the Legislature. Reading the legislation is vital, for when we adjourn, all that is left are the words.

Breadth of experience: Surprising things like living in a number of different states, my children attending a number of different school systems, traveling across the country and abroad, owning my own businesses, allows me to provide a different voice and a different perspective in the Legislature.

Specific expertise: Turns out, every member contributes something unique and important to the legislative process. My unique contributions include being the only member who has owned and operated an audio/visual production company and the only member that works in information technology. (A bit unnerving as I have a very good idea of what it is that I don't know!) My understanding of information systems, processes and infrastructure is surprisingly important.

I am pleased to be able to add expertise, validate policy directions, and play a role in nudging our government into plan for the future instead of simply providing for today.

Asking questions and listening: Probably the greatest strength I bring to the Legislature. I am engaged and I am curious, but being a servant to the people requires a desire to illuminate, to understand, and to anticipate unintended consequences. Some might describe this as being a good communicator, but for me, it really is about asking good questions, the right questions, regardless of fallout, and paying attention to what happens once the question is asked.

Have you ever been arrested or charged with a felony or misdemeanor? If yes, explain. No.

What is the best meal you can cook from scratch?

Cooking has taken a hit since being elected to serve. Meals most requested by my children are green chile chicken enchiladas and pot roast with potatoes, carrots and gravy, and I make an excellent spritz cookie.

Last book you read: "A Team of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin, also "Money Ball" by Michael Lewis

What was your biggest mistake in life and what lesson did you learn?

So many to choose from - so little time! One life lesson that has stayed with me came from Mrs. Waters, speech teacher at Albuquerque High School. I was supposed to do an oral interpretation for an assembly. I thought I could wing it. At the first rehearsal, Mrs. Waters warned me to practice and be prepared. At the second rehearsal, Mrs. Waters "fired" me. I was stunned, but the action was justified. I had not practiced and I was not prepared. Lesson: For meetings, presentations and most things in life – make time to be prepared.

A recent report by the Fiscal Policy Institute found that states with a minimum wage above $5.15 have had faster job growth in the small business and retail trade sector than states with the federal minimum wage. Given that, would you support a statewide minimum wage of $7.50 Why or why not?

First, I think this issue belongs with Congress. When cities, states - "pockets" - set wage requirements two things happen, jobs move just outside the "pocket" to get around the requirement and within the "pocket," cost of living escalates. Resolving this issue at the federal level would provide a more level playing field.

It is clear that market forces in Albuquerque, for the most part, have increased the minimum wage to around $6.50. Wendy's starts new employees at that level. Frontier Restaurant starts their new employees at $8. Any business that plans to stay in business knows that it is more cost effective to train and keep their employees than to continually replace and train employees.

Within this market, employers are competing for good employees. To compete, businesses are offering a competitive wage.

Spokane, as an example, implemented a significant increase in the minimum wage several years ago. The result was a substantial loss in local, indigenous businesses and services and an expansion of "big box," chain type business. They also lost much of the remainder of their manufacturing industries. While no one (no one that I know) would argue that $5.15 is a livable full-time wage, intervening in the marketplace locally, may have more negative consequences than positive ones.

With all that said, I believe the federal minimum wage is a "minimum." I think the minimum wage standard should be increased at the federal level and that annual or bi-annual incremental increases should be part of establishing a federal minimum wage.

The Legislature in 2007 will consider some ethics reforms. What one change would you make to improve ethics in our state government?

I would define "conflict of interest," make sure that EVERYONE understands what constitutes "conflict of interest" and then enforce the standards to eliminate "conflicts of interest" within state government, the Legislature, and when doing business with state government.

Would you vote to repeal the death penalty in New Mexico? No.

Would you support and fund a way for the Legislature to keep better tabs on public building projects?

Yes, and more important, we must choose to use the tools that exist and are at our disposal, to do so.

Would you support a measure that would allow chronically ill patients to use marijuana?

If you are talking about medical marijuana, yes. Dealing with chronic pain is very expensive for our citizens. In some cases, the most effective relief is medical marijuana. It should be available when there are no other alternatives.

What more should New Mexico do in response to drought?

In spite of the recent, prolonged flooding, I think we should always be mindful that we live in a desert climate. Being frugal, using devices like odd/even watering help keep the use of water foremost in our minds. As we champion economic development, look at ways to minimize the overall increase in the state's population.

What can be done to improve the state's public schools?

1. Stop treating students as if they are all alike. Stop withholding knowledge and information. Stop insisting that "squirrels" swim and "ducks" climb trees. Teach to children's strength and fill in as mastery takes place in other areas. Stop telling students that they should know what they want to be when they - go to high school - go to college - go into the workforce. Validate that discovery of self is a process and that for most students; there will "be" several professions/passions throughout their lives.

2. Identify and train principals to manage and to help schools succeed.

3. Allow teachers to teach. Refrain from setting curriculum by the Legislature.

4. Prepare new teachers to teach. Teachers must have mastery of content as well as process.

5. Change the licensing requirements. Currently, a teacher is licensed K-eight or nine-12. The assumption that the preparation needed to teach first grade is the same as the preparation need to teach seventh grade is flawed and may contribute to the lack of subject matter expertise at the middle school level where establishing the foundations of math, especially algebra, and basic scientific methodology is critical.

6. When teachers/schools do not have subject matter expertise, employ distance learning to provide the best instruction available to all students.

Is the current system for allocating the state's capital improvement money working? Why or why not? What specifically would you change?

No.

1. Require that the executive submit their capital requests no later than the second day of any session.

2. That ALL requests - including the executive's - be heard in public and that if a request can not be funded as a result of legality, lack of preparation, lack of information, lack of concurrence by local funding entities, that the requesting entity be informed as such and their request eliminated from the process for that year. Make the process transparent.

3. Use the tools that exist to make sure that capital requests are funded at a sufficient level or eliminated, and that requests are not over-funded. (The capital outlay system is housed in a robust database that, to date, is not used to provide policy level decision-making.)

Should the state build another prison to deal with the increasing inmate population? Yes.

Would you support an increase in lawmaker per diem or a salaried Legislature?

Yes or alternately, I would support retaining a volunteer citizen Legislature but make staff available to legislators year round.

What is the greatest need in your district?

Three needs:

1. A safe place for 15-to 20-year-olds to congregate.

2. A greater emphasis on needs of senior services. This is an aging district. Identifying and serving seniors is vital. Use a flexible more agile plan of public transportation to target aging populations (use of GIS systems overlays will yield this type of information). As neighborhoods are renewed, re-allocate services to emerging aging areas. Curbing the growth of neighborhood groups homes for the aging or disabled that do not provide appropriate services or supervision.

3. Maintain and enhance the quality of our schools.

How long have you lived in your district? 12 years