Candidate name: John R. Joaquin

Party affiliation: Republican

Place of residence: Rockville

Date of birth: Aug. 7, 1961

Place of birth: Chico, CA

Current occupation: Public sector program manager for the leading human resources technology services company

Education: BA, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA); MBA, George Washington University; graduate studies, London School of Economics

Community associations, involvement: Founder, project leader, Preserve at Small’s Nursery Annual Earthday Cleanup; Past member, Presidential Meritorious Review Board; Founder, past chair, IT Community Foundation; Past co-project leader, The Home That Tech Built ; Founder, past director, Citizens Against Norbeck Expansion; Past vice president, Manor Community Association; Past co-chair, Entrepreneur’s Committee, Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts

Professional associations: Member, Legislative Affairs Committee, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce; Member, Maryland Chamber of Commerce; Member, Transportation Committee, Greater Washington Board of Trade; Past industry liaison, Interagency Committee on Government Information; Past member, Public Policy Committee, TechNet; Past member, Emerging Business Committee, Northern Virginia Technology Council ; Past member, Industry Advisory Council

Family: Married 17 years, two children (girls age 8 and 6)

Campaign office address and telephone:

Citizens for John Joaquin

P.O. Box 12056

Silver Spring, MD 20906

240-498-7878

Link to candidate’s Web site, if site exists: www.JohnJoaquin.com

Link to state Board of Elections campaign finance database

1. Making our government function better, at a lower cost and that is accountable to taxpayers for results.

2. Improving transportation systems to relieve traffic gridlock in my district and reduce statewide congestion.

3. Addressing the health care crisis by empowering individuals with more choice and more responsibility over their own healthcare decisions, using competition and free market forces to lower costs and by bringing many of the systemic reforms in the Massachusetts Health Care Reform Law of 2006 to Maryland.

How would you rate the performance of the current representatives of your district: excellent, good, fair or poor? Why?

Poor. The problems that continue to plague my district and our state were not addressed adequately by our current delegation. These problems got worse under their tenure.

Do you support amending the constitution to give the legislature more budget authority?

No. I believe government must first be operated more efficiently and with more accountability to taxpayers before giving the legislature more control over the budget. The legislature has proved time and again that they have never seen a program or tax increase they didn’t like. More budget authority is a code phrase for more wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars and higher taxes.

Is the rate of growth in Maryland too fast, too slow or about right, and why?

Growth is critical to our communities as it means more and better jobs, more opportunities for our citizens and more tax revenues to help the most vulnerable. It provides the money to help solve our transportation problems and provide services for our sick and elderly. We cannot stop growth and have a vibrant society at the same time. Growth must be properly managed and I support smart growth initiatives and citizen choice.

What programs would you like to add or cut from the state budget? How would you pay for additional programs? What would you do with the money from any cuts you make?

There is too much waste in our government as many programs have outlived their purpose and are duplicated by others. I will evaluate all programs to see whether they are meeting their intended mission effectively and look to consolidate duplicate effort. I will hold the line on spending and taxes.

Are there specific taxes or fees that you would cut?

I will reform the property valuation and assessment system and cut property taxes. Increases in property values, for taxing purposes would be limited under my proposed legislation, to the rate of inflation as long as the person continues to own their home. I would roll back assessment to 2002 levels before the housing price bubble developed. This would protect lower and middle-income citizens and retirees.

Do you support slot machines for Maryland? Why or why not?

I think our society is too focused on gambling. Gambling often hurts those that can least afford it. I would rather see a society that more rewards hard work and personal responsibility, not a society that thinks chance and luck are the way to financial security and happiness.

I would support slot machines at Maryland racetracks to help keep the horseracing industry healthy and viable. Slots at tracks will help attract more people to those venues and provide a way to help a $21 billion a year industry survive. Slots will allow Maryland to keep tax revenues that are currently going to other states.

Do you support giving driver’ s licenses to illegal immigrants?

No. I do not support providing this benefit to people who break the law and are in our country illegally.

Do you support in-state tuition to illegal immigrants?

No. I do not support providing this benefit to people who break the law and are in our country illegally. If law breaking has no consequence, and only benefit, then where are we as a society that is built upon the rule of law?

What is the biggest problem facing higher education and what would you do to solve it?

The cost of access to higher education is the biggest problem I see. I would expand the supply and choice of higher education through community colleges, trade and technical schools and Internet learning. I would expand student aid to lower and middle class families. I support deductibility of state income taxes for all tuition costs for lower and middle-income Maryland residents attending Maryland schools.

Where would you get more money for the Transportation Trust Fund?

I would prioritize money from the existing budget to transportation.

I would study setting aside 1 percent of existing sales tax revenues dedicated to transportation if needed.

I would study the impact of putting a toll before the Wilson Bridge. It would target out of state drivers for higher tolls while providing substantial discounts for regional residents and businesses using EZ Pass technology.

I would work with our Congressional representatives to bring more of the Federal gas taxes collected in Maryland back to Maryland to our transportation priorities. Currently we are ‘‘donor” state giving more in taxes than we receive back in Federal funding.

What specific transportation projects do you see as priorities for the state?

Building the Intercounty Connector on time and on budget, and building the Inner Purple Line and Corridor Cities Transitway.

Should there be a dedicated funding source for Washington and Baltimore mass transit?

Maryland has proven capable of funding transportation. This is more a problem more Virginia and the District of Columbia. I would study setting aside 1 percent of existing sales tax revenues dedicated to transportation. A portion of this could be used for a dedicated funding source if needed.

Would you re-regulate the electricity industry?

No. Regulation, through price controls, is what got Maryland in the mess it is in the first place. If you keep prices artificially low for one company it removes the incentive for other companies to enter the market and to increase supply and to lower prices.

In our case, the efforts by the state Legislature have proven harmful back to 1999. The recent efforts had the effect of putting an additional tax (the higher interest payment on the deferment plan) on consumers. It also lowered the bond rating of one of our major power providers and reduced its ability to raise money while increasing the cost to do so. These costs will be passed on to consumers through increased energy prices.

Do you believe Maryland’s gun control laws are too strict, not strict enough or just right?

I think our existing laws properly protect citizen safety while abiding by Amendment II of the Bill of Rights in the US Constitution.

What is your position on abortion?

If elected I will enforce all state and federal laws.

Should the Maryland constitution be changed to allow same-sex marriages?

No. Marriage has been proven over 5,000 years of civilization as the best institution to raise children and it should be protected and strengthen for the good of society. I am against discrimination based upon race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or political affiliation. I support allowing citizens to vote on same-sex marriages legislation to help our state better decide this issue. I do not believe the opinions of appointed judges, that have no accountability to citizens, should decide this issue over the will of the governed.

Does the state need stricter controls to protect the environment?

I believe Maryland is at the forefront of environmental protection and should continue to aggressively protect our environment. It should do so in manner that promotes sustainable economic growth. I am for expanding programs that set aside additional farm land for preservation and that protect the Chesapeake Bay.

Would you support placing the Intercounty Connector under ground as it intersects with Georgia Avenue just north of Norbeck Road?

Yes. I have advocated this position to state officials in the past.

Do you think the state needs to do more to prevent older, smaller homes from being torn down and replaced by larger houses?

No. The government should have a no role in the personal decisions by homeowners accept where their choices conflict with existing zoning and historical preservation laws. Progress and change is painful for many but should not be illegal all.