Candidate Profile: Mabelle Gummere For State House District 10

The 2020 election is heating up in Arizona with plenty of candidates vying for office. While there is a huge emphasis on the presidential election, voters will also decide the outcome of state representative and senate seats.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Mabelle Gummere, a Tucson resident, is running for State House District 10.

Age: 64
Party affiliation: Republican Party
Family: My husband, Steve, and our son.
Occupation: Retired businesswoman with over 46 years of experience.
Previous elected experience: None
Family members in government: No
Campaign website: https://www.mabelle4ld10.com/

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Our most pressing issue at the moment is to reopen our state. We need to get our children back in school, parents back to work and our businesses reopened. I will revisit the emergency powers granted to the Governor to close down businesses and the economy. I would like to see some of the overreaching powers returned to the legislative body.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am the only candidate running for this position who has a background of owning and operating a successful business. I have a proven record of creating jobs, creating and managing budgets, and working with the public.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have owned numerous successful small businesses. I have a proven ability to negotiate, solve problems, and have a thorough understanding of what it takes to be successful. I have the ability to make money, and most of all, keep it. Additionally, I have a background in management, design and merchandising, import and export (UK, China, and Mexico), sales and real estate. I am fluent in Spanish.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?

We need to approach tax reform with an eye on attracting new businesses small and large to our State. We can follow the lead of other States that are business friendly. For our homegrown businesses, we need to investigate the possibility of emergency grants to jumpstart our economy, as well as incentives to start new businesses. The economic catastrophe at hand was not by their own creation. Many of our small businesses may never reopen. Small business have always been the backbone of America. Businesses such as Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard were started in garages, while others were created at dining room tables. We need to support these small businesses for a strong economy.

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?

All Arizonans should be treated equally under the law. Law enforcement needs to be adequately funded, staffed, equipped and trained. Without public safety or inadequate public safety our economy cannot thrive. The old saying that “justice is blind” should stand, and the practice adhered to.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

I support education and higher teacher salaries. However, as in any “business” there needs to be accountability. Continuously throwing money at a problem does not fix the underlying issues. We should focus on administrative accountability, a quality education, quality educators, and compensation commensurate with the product delivered.

Law enforcement needs to be adequately funded, staffed, trained, and equipped. A safe state is a prosperous state.

I would also like to see a sliding scale program based upon disability rating that provides disabled veterans with a property tax credit under the age of 65, and possibly other credits for government fees. These brave men and women have sacrificed for us, and they need to be recognized for these sacrifices. I sincerely thank them for their service.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am not a politician. I am a businesswoman who sees a need for change. After living in Tucson for 26 years, I found a calling to give back to the community that has been so good to myself and my family. I have a reputation for being fair and honest, and conduct myself accordingly. I work hard and solve problems. I will represent you in Phoenix no matter what your party. When it comes down to it, we all basically want the same things for our state. Domestic tranquility, quality education, prosperity and fairness. Please vote for me, and I assure you that I will get Maricopa to finally take notice of you.