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John McWaters, Democrat
John McWaters
The Job of State House of Representatives: Districts 30
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 30 state representative
Name: John McWaters, Democrat
Age: 61
Campaign Web site address: www.johnmcwaters.com
Occupation: Retired from Public Service Company of New Mexico; public service volunteer; disabled military veteran.
Family: Divorced; Labrador retriever named Kasey.
Education: Bachelor of arts in business administration from Michigan State University
Please list the experience you think would make you a good state representative.
Government, as deputy cabinet secretary of the state Department of Veterans' Services.
Business and energy policy, while working with businesses for PNM and Mobil Oil in its marketing department.
Leadership as an Army Officer serving in a combat zone and state side.
Understanding people, as a grateful, law abiding, concerned senior citizen dedicated to the great state of New Mexico and its citizen legislative process.
Have you ever been arrested or charged with a felony or misdemeanor? If yes, explain. No, never.
What is the best meal you can cook from scratch?
Government Issue (GI) C-rations
Last book you read:
"Blink" by Malcolm Gladwin
What was your biggest mistake in life and what lesson did you learn?
Biggest mistake was letting government determine my fate during the Vietnam War. I have learned to get involved in the outcome of government myself and not sit by and watch or complain without trying to make a difference.
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?
Yes, I believe that the influx of illegal immigrants and immigration labor is supporting the supply of labor at the lower minimum wage level. Maybe if it were raised, it will discourage employers from hiring illegally and help illegals afford the legal immigration procedure.
The Legislature in 2007 will consider some ethics reforms. What one change would you make to improve ethics in our state government?
Outlaw donations by corporations, non-voting entities or their surrogate representatives to elected political campaigns. The Legislature in particular is supposed to be a citizen representation.
Would you vote to repeal the death penalty in New Mexico?
No, I would expand it to include politicians who steal from New Mexicans to enrich themselves or others.
Would you support and fund a way for the Legislature to keep better tabs on public building projects?
Yes, The New Mexico Government Services Agency (GSA) is supposed to do that now but it needs help. I had experience with that problem when working in Santa Fe.
Would you support a measure that would allow chronically ill patients to use marijuana?
Yes, a good friend of mine, who was a doctor, had to use it, while dying of cancer, for pain relief.
What more should New Mexico do in response to drought?
Implement agricultural efficiency standards for water use and crop production.
What can be done to improve the state's public schools?
Obtain parental involvement in public schools. This requires more social service liaisons from the schools to parents to explain, prioritize, and engage the parent in the importance and opportunity of a good education.
Is the current system for allocating the state's capital improvement money working? Why or why not? What specifically would you change?
No. The 60- and 30-day sessions are not adequate in time to evaluate all the capital improvement bills and their impact. I would like to see a priority matrix system used to determine which bills are presented to the Legislature based on the state's and district's priority of needs. I think crime, quality of life and education are high priority.
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?
I would support a lawmaker per diem increase because when I worked in Santa Fe I felt the employee per diem did not fully cover travel expenses. The citizen legislator should be fully funded to enable the citizen to legislate without depending on lobbyist meals and favors.
What is the greatest need in your district? Crime reduction.
How long have you lived in your district?
Twenty years in the district, 34 years in Albuquerque.
