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Candidate for District 18 state representative

Name: Lance Klafeta, Republican

Age: 44

Campaign Web site: None yet

Occupation: Independent contractor with Yellow Cab and book store owner.

Family: Divorced father of three children.

Education: Bachelor's in political science from University of South Florida 1986; a second undergraduate degree in secondary social studies education from the University of New Mexico, 2000; 15 hours of graduate work in special education, 2001-2002.

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

Experienced classroom teacher, veteran Army officer, small business owner.

Have you ever been arrested or charged with a felony or misdemeanor? If yes, explain.

I have been charged with several felonies, all nulled or dismissed because, like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, I believe in standing up for my civil rights and this always invites the wrath of over-zealous law enforcement.

(Editor's note: Klafeta was charged with battery, resisting or obstructing a police officer and disorderly conduct in 2003. According to a police report, Klafeta threatened to kill officers and made taped statements about bomb making and Osama bin Laden after his arrest. The charges were deferred and later dismissed. A 1999 child abuse charge, stemming from an incident when Klafeta allegedly left his daughter unattended by a pond, was also dropped.)

What is the best meal you can cook from scratch?

Barbecue chicken

Last book you read:

"The Laughing Man" by Victor Hugo

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

My biggest mistake was my marriage. I have learned that love and idealism can not conquer all.

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?

I would dispute the figures. If the government artificially increases wages, then employers pass the cost on to customers. On paper, there is economic growth in terms of gross receipts, but according to the laws of supply and demand sales must fall with an increase in price. The result is job losses particularly for the unskilled and people with special needs. I do support the efforts of workers organize and demand better wages and conditions. I was outraged when President Bush threatened to use the military if the California dock workers went on strike. When Harry Truman threatened to do the same to the steel industry during the Korean War, conservatives and Republicans howled that it was an abuse of power and unwarranted government intervention. Where are the Republicans today?

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

"Ethics law" is a redundancy. The whole purpose of legislation is to codify ethics. Ethics laws will not change unethical people. However, the one issue I would address is gerrymandering of legislative districts so as to ensure the re-election of my opponent.

Would you vote to repeal the death penalty in New Mexico?

I would not repeal the death penalty, not because I am unaware that innocent people have been executed or that I trust the judicial system, but because I believe there are some crimes that warrant it. I also understand that the job of prosecutors would be complicated by the repeal of the death penalty. If the most the perpetrator of a heinous crime can expect is life in prison he or she might just as well go to trial in hopes of a mistrial or judicial error.

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

If it would add to the efficiency of such projects, I would spend money to save money.

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

Only a sadist would oppose the right of a chronically ill patient to use marijuana. In fact, I would legalize marijuana and tax it. Furthermore, I support the development of hemp for bio-diesel. Hemp could do for New Mexico what sugar cane has done for Brazil.

What more should New Mexico do in response to drought?

Developers should be assessed impact fees to adequately provide for schools, roads, drainage, etc. This would slow the increase in demand for water.

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

In private schools, 90 percent of employees are classroom teachers. In APS, 48 percent of the people on any schools payroll are classroom teachers. I would fire every other educational administrator starting at the top and give all the teachers a 50 percent raise.

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

The Legislature did an acceptable job allocating funds. Bill Richardson vetoed spending appropriations for projects in Republican districts more than in Democratic districts. I would remove Bill Richardson.

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

The state should repeal laws to reduce the prison population. New Mexico is like "Gilligan's Island" in the episode when some items were found missing and the castaways voted to make Gilligan sheriff. By the middle of the episode, Gilligan had arrested everyone. The items were later found to have been misplaced.

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

I would love to be a salaried Legislature, but I will not let it be said, after a lifetime of complaining how politicians just enrich themselves, that as soon as I got elected I voted myself a salary!

What is the greatest need in your district?

The greatest need is liberty! The draconian proposals that threaten to make felons of servers for making honest errors on the job is just the latest example of the heavy-handed, overbearing government power that needs to be cut down to size.

How long have you lived in your district?

I have lived in my district for five years.