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Meet Your Candidate: John Fillmore seeks District 16 House seat

Posted 7/2/20

John Fillmore is running as a Republican for one of two Arizona House seats in District 16 --- which includes Apache Junction, East Mesa and Gold Canyon.

The deadline to register to vote in the …

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Meet Your Candidate: John Fillmore seeks District 16 House seat

Posted

John Fillmore is running as a Republican for one of two Arizona House seats in District 16 --- which includes Apache Junction, East Mesa and Gold Canyon.

The deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 4 primary election is July 6. If needed, a general election will be Nov. 3. Register to vote at Servicearizona.com or request a form from Maricopa County at 602-506-1511 (maricopa.gov) or Pinal County at 520-866-7100 (pinalcountyaz.gov).

Name: John Fillmore

Age: A young 69

Career and Education: Founder and owner of the WeatherShacks in Mesa, a small chain of retail stores selling evaporative coolers and fireplaces “I had the best job In the world for a guy,” he often says. “I got to play with nuts, bolts, screws and fire while spinning tall tales and bull chipping with customers all day at my stores.” I am also a real estate broker in Arizona --- a hobby for many, many years. I am past president and current member of The Superstition Mountain Republican Club. I have served on the economic development board for the Town of Gilbert, served on two chamber of commerce boards and was the chairman of the founding committee for the Gilbert Leadership program.

Political experience: State representative LD 23, 2011-12; current state representative LD16 --- Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, East Mesa, upper SanTan Valley.

Years as an Arizona resident: 42 great years.

Family: Divorced, one daughter, two grandchildren.

What makes you to the best candidate to represent your party in the November General Election?: I have lived and worked in the district for over 32 years. I know and understand our values, needs and concerns. I am a recipient of “Family Champion” Award from Center for Arizona Policy, a veteran, pro-life and strong on Second Amendment, awarded “Rising Star” by Cconservative Arizona Liberty Group and have been previously rated 100% by Center for Arizona Policy, 86% Goldwater Institute, 100% AZ National Federation of Independent, Business, 93% NRA, 100% AZ Small Business Coalition and have been endorsed just recently by the Greater Phoenix Chamber for my pro-business stances. But most importantly my constituents know me as an outspoken conservative that loves America.

What are the three most important issues you will tackle if elected?: Working to instill educational programs for helping kids face the real world and stopping the idiocy of gender direction and equity or “feelings” in our schools. Stopping the waste of dollars in redundancy and overloaded administrations and getting more classroom dollars to the teachers. Preserving our freedoms from an overbearing government and ensuring we keep opportunities in our free economic system and not socialistic program expansions

What is one commendation and one point of improvement you can work on regarding public safety in the next term?: I will work to support police educational and community values and training while trying to ensure they have the resources needed to do their job free of crazy liberal rules.

In response to COVID-19 budget deficits, how can the state adopt long-term structural changes to its budget in the foreseeable future?: We can resist the urge that will be coming to just throw taxpayer dollars at more government and try to ensure that we meet the needs of those that truly need assistance by preserving and promoting their community support systems.

What can you do to help improve the economy and business community?: Keep taxes low, stop government regulation growth and educating our kids for a good future.

What should the state’s involvement be in the public education system, especially since most of its funding comes from the state budget, and the way education will be delivered is likely to change because of the pandemic?: I believe we should first do some school consolidation getting rid of the redundancy and waste and focus more $$ into the classroom and teachers, We should let parents have more school choices and the ability to send their children where they feel their kids will get the best education.

What are your plans to improve the transportation infrastructure throughout Arizona, keeping in mind that the way we get around in the future will be affected by how the pandemic plays out?: I believe we can first look at rules, regulations or tax incentives and capabilities of more working from home. Help Pinal County increase its mass transportation system and Arizona really as to fulfill its pledge made on a bypass for Gold Canyon.