Two candidates, Bob Karp (D) and incumbent David Gowan (R), are running for AZ State Senate for LD19, which includes Sonoita, Elgin and Patagonia. Each candidate was provided questions by email. To date, the PRT has not received a reply from Sen. Gowan. Some responses have been edited for space and clarity.
Name: Bob Karp
Residence: Sierra Vista, Cochise County
Education/licenses/certifications/military: BA, UCLA
Recent employment: Retired
Community organizations/activities: 2015 President of the Southeast Arizona Association of Realtors and the Southeast Arizona Multiple Listing Service
Previous Public Office/Service: City of Sierra Vista Planning & Zoning commission 2016-17
Learn more at: rwkarp.com, facebook.com/bobkarp2024
What motivated you to run for this office?
I have run for the state legislature twice previously, believing that democracy is best served by a vigorous debate on the issues. That cannot be done if Democrats do not field a candidate. There is a need for change in the way this state is governed. It is time for new leadership.
Describe any efforts you would made make as a legislator that would directly benefit eastern Santa Cruz County.
One of the first bills I would introduce would be to end the ESA Voucher program which is draining funds from rural school districts throughout southeast Arizona. I would also propose expanded oversight authority for the ADWR to begin to monitor wells that pump more than 35 gallons of water per minute.
Who should bear the added expense of having to provide the additional emergency resources that will be required with increased traffic on SR 82 and SR83 due to the Hermosa Project?
The 2024-25 budget will severely impact infrastructure and road safety. If possible, the state should demand through bond authority that private projects that heavily impact public safety on rural roads share the burden of funding increased emergency costs.
The universal school voucher program has come under fire for exceeding budget estimates. Should funds for these vouchers continue to be paid from the state education budget? Do you believe that there is adequate oversight, accountability and transparency standards for homeschooled and private school students’ programs?
As I stated above, I believe the ESA Voucher program should be killed and a new program that has oversight, restrictions, caps on participation and costs as well as accountability on curriculum and safety standards be put in its place. The original program was designed for special needs students that could not get services from their local school district. That should be the focus of the program. At a minimum, I support the 8-point plan that Governor Hobbs proposed that Republicans rejected.
Having an adequate water supply is an important issue for residents here who are worried that our region could be affected by increased mining and development. How would you propose to monitor and regulate water usage in Arizona?
We need to start with actual data and science to ascertain where we are on water resources. We know that parts of Cochise County are already in crisis. We need to give ADWR the power to monitor industrial wells and all new well permits. Current law forbids monitoring. Private well owners should be encouraged to provide data to the ADWR. The state should fund monitoring equipment for private wells. State law needs to be updated to put penalties for over pumping in AMAs. The state should consider limiting the number of wells on large industrial agriculture tracts. I am opposed to any new mining operations in Santa Cruz, Pima and Cochise Counties.
Given the upcoming second wave of income tax cuts in our immediate future, how do you plan to balance the state budget without shifting the burden of funding down to the counties, cities and towns in Arizona?
I have stated in 2018 and 2020 that I would not support any additional tax breaks for tax credits. I stand by that pledge. One solution to the budget crisis is to roll back the 2.5% “flat” income tax by adding back a tax bracket for households with income over $250,000. An additional tax bracket for corporate taxes also needs to be added. Curtailing and/or capping ESA vouchers could reduce the deficit by $400 million. Increasing any taxes is almost impossible because of state law, but I want to start the conversation.
What do you think are the other important issues facing the constituents in eastern Santa Cruz County and what will you do to respond to them?
Reproductive and health care freedom is on the ballot this November. Regardless of what happens with the Arizona Abortion Access Initiative, I will work to codify the right to an abortion, as well as IVF and contraception services. This is a personal freedom issue.