Mike Ginsburg

NAME: Mike Ginsburg

AGE: 61

PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican

DAY JOB: NV Energy - Manager Distribution Design

EDUCATION: 

Bachelors’ Degree: University of Nevada - Reno Associates Degree: Drafting Technology T.M.C.C.

HOW LONG YOU HAVE LIVED IN NEVADA: My family came to Reno in 1914, but for me personally 61 years.

WRITE A BRIEF (TWO TO THREE SENTENCES) SUMMARY OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE THAT WOULD ENABLE YOU TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THIS OFFICE: 

I am a father of three daughters, a husband, and a 39-year employee of NV Energy. I have spent my career managing people and volunteering in the community as a high school swimming official, running the local triathlon club and participating in the sport for the past 31 years, Chairman of the City of Reno Parks and Recreation commission, Neighborhood advisory board (Ward 1), Caughlin Ranch Homeowners association and as the Past President of Sierra Nevada Community Aquatics, where I helped get the Moana pool built (17 years). Everything I have done has been giving back to better the community, and that's why I am the most qualified to be your next state senator. My opponent is a career politician, seeking her 3rd different political office in 4 years.

WHAT IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY IF ELECTED? 

My top priority would have to be affordable housing. I am a dad of three beautiful adult daughters, and it has been a challenge for them to afford a place to live. This issue is like an onion, and it has many layers, some of which can't be fixed by the legislature, such as interest rates. There are some things that we can address in the legislature, like easing regulations for builders and contractors who help to make new developments a reality. We also need to ease the permitting process for every phase of development. Additionally, we need to use our collective power as elected officials to lobby for Congress to release some of the federal land in the surrounding area. When was the last time you saw a bipartisan group of legislators go to DC to lobby non-Nevada members of Congress to support a lands bill? There has been a lot of talk for many years, but no action. Democrats, meanwhile, passed bills last legislative session to make it harder for builders and contractors to do their jobs. MY opponent has served in the legislature, and she did nothing to fix this issue. What makes voters think she will do it next time?

IN JUST A FEW SENTENCES: WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FACING OUR STATE, AND HOW WOULD YOU FIX IT? 

Aside from affordable housing, as I already mentioned, another problem that we have is a dying system of government, thanks to Steve Sisolak and the Democrats. Look at the last several election cycles. Donald Trump lost by a few percent both times, Governor Lombardo won by a few percent, and Adam Laxalt lost by less than one percent. Nevada is virtually a 50/50 Republican and Democrat state. What is the makeup of our legislature? 75% Democrat and 25% Republican. Thanks to Sisolak and the Democrats, 50% of the state has no voice in our legislative process. The duly elected Governor is on the verge of being a "Governor In Name Only" if the Democrats get a supermajority in both chambers, which they are one seat away from in the Senate. Does this seem like a representative government? Democrats claim to be the party of the people, yet they have purposefully created a system of one-party rule in a purple state. This needs to be fixed. We need to work to redraw the districts to make them fairer and more representative of all people. The behavior of the Democrats is shameful, especially when they claim to be the party fighting to make sure everyone has a voice. You must elect me to the state senate to keep one-party rule in check until we can fix this issue. We must protect the Governor's veto power.

IN ONE SENTENCE: WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING VOTERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU? 

I am the ONLY candidate in this race who has sent kids through the Washoe County Public School system and the University system here in Nevada. Why is that important? If you want people to tackle education problems, we should elect people who have a real, personal understanding of what it's like to have kids in schools, not just the perspective of administrators like my opponent.

YES OR NO: WILL YOU ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF THIS ELECTION, WHETHER YOU WIN OR LOSE? 

Yes