Candidates for State Representative Position 2, Question 2 Legislative Committees

The State Representative Position No 2 seat is currently held by Ruth Kagi, who is running for re-election. Two additional candidates have filed for this position but one did not respond to us. This is our second question to the candidates: What committees would you request in the legislature - why are they important to you and what do you bring that would make it likely you would be assigned to those committees?

Stan Lippmann

Did not respond

Gary Gagliardi

Ways and Means and/or Finance because the budgeting and taxation are where our most difficult challenges and biggest opportunities lie. Poor spending and taxation policies are driving out business in our state. Having run an accounting software company that worked with some of the world’s largest organizations and having studied finance at Harvard Business School, I have experience in this area that most others lack. Education, because it is the largest budgetary item and because our current system is failing. For the last several years, I have run a educational organization that focuses specifically on making organizations more competitive. My work is used in schools all over the world.

Ruth Kagi

I first ran for the legislature to be a strong voice for children. The Early Learning and Children’s Services Committee which I chair is responsible for child care, pre-school, foster care, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. My background with the League of Women Voters and several commissions and agencies serving children and families has given me insight- and contacts with knowledgeable and valuable individuals. I also spend a lot of time visiting community programs and state offices to learn what we could change to improve operations and outcomes.

Next session, the primary issues will be budgetary. For that reason, I expect to continue serving on the Education Appropriations Committee, which provides fiscal oversight for education funding from pre-school through higher education. I will continue to serve on the Ways and Means Committee where my twelve years of budgetary experience will be valuable as we face another deficit.