Election 2016: Frank Accavitti Candidate Questionnaire

Why are you running for Congress?

My reasons for running for office go far beyond the thought that I can change policy and make a difference (which I believe I can). I learned early on that solving a constituent’s issue, either a resident or business in my City or District, and making a difference in their lives fed my soul. To this end I have made it my goal to make a difference in at least one person’s life every day. As a Public Servant I have been blessed that somedays I took action that make life better for masses of citizens. I hope to continue that effort in our United States Congress.

What qualifies you to run for Congress?

I have a long history of Public Service and Business Experience. Here is a summary –

County Commissioner 22nd District – County of Macomb January 2009 – December 2010 Chairman Committee on Technology and Communications, Member of several other committees including Planning and Economic Development, Administrative Service, Public Services, Personal, Budget, Finance, Provided Constitute Services to the 22nd County Commission District Representative 42nd House District – Michigan House of Representative January 2002 – December 2008 Chairman of Committee on Energy and Technology, Membership on several other committees including Commerce (subcommittee chair), Transportation, Local Government and Urban Policy, Child and Family Services, Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Constitute Services 42nd House District (Eastpointe, Roseville, Fraser) Mayor – City of Eastpointe November 1999 – December 2002 Suburban Community with population of over 35,000, Annual Budget $17 million Trustee South Macomb Disposal Authority, Trustee Southeast Macomb Sanitary District, Chairman Eastpointe Pension Board City Councilman – City of Eastpointe November 1995 – November 1999 Suburban community with population of over 35,000, Annual Budget $ 17 million, Member Library Board, Trustee Pension Board

President – Care House Macomb County Child Advocacy Center, Inc. January 2013 – Present Providing hope and healing to child victims of sexual and physical abuse in Macomb County Founder/CEO – Accavitti Consulting Group L.L.C. January 2009 – Present A multi-client Public Relations and Lobbying Firm Proprietor – Automatic Appliance and Electronics August 1979 – January 2003 A Family Business operating on Detroit’s Eastside since 1938 Annual Sales of 1.5 to 2 million dollars. Successfully moved company from Detroit to Eastpointe in 1986 Past Member Eastpointe Chamber of Commerce, Past President & Director of the Eastpointe Community Chest, Past President and Member of the Eastpointe Kiwanis Club, Past Member of the Selfridge Air National Air Base Community Council, Member Eastpointe Lions Club. Member Italian American Cultural Society. Member Americans of Italian Origin. Member Roseville Optimist Club.

What do you consider the major issues facing your district? Please name at least three.

Jobs, National Security and Tax reform.

How do you plan to address those issues if elected?

1. Jobs

We should be adopting and pursuing a national manufacturing strategy. I would suggest promoting the export of U.S. goods. Let’s encourage businesses to bring American jobs and innovation back to the United States. Also we need to train and secure a twenty-first century workforce.

2. National Security

I believe our national security personnel are the most dynamic and well-trained in the world, and that we must never forget the solemn duty that they fulfill for our nation. I am committed to ensuring our troops have the training, equipment, and support that they need when they are deployed and the care that they and their families need and deserve when they return home. We must be focused on preventing terrorism across the globe. This means continuing to invest heavily in intelligence and information sharing and promoting those networks among our allies. We will continue to strengthen our ability to keep nuclear and biological weapons out of the hands of terrorists, promote efforts to better ensure border security, and augment defense of our national infrastructure.

3. Tax Reform

The tax system should be simplified and work for all Americans with lower individual and corporate tax rates and fewer brackets. Certainly we must cut inefficient and unfair tax breaks so that the American people and businesses spend less time and less money each year filing taxes and no one can avoid their financial responsibility.

Are you formally endorsing a candidate for President?

I expect Michigan to be a battle ground state in the Presidential Race and when elected to Congress would like to have my Party also hold the executive branch. So naturally, I will support and appear with my party’s presidential nominee.

In broad terms, what do you believe is the relationship between the federal government and local units of government? What is in your record that supports and informs this philosophy?

For the most part the Federal government has always been the engine of change while States typically favor the status quo and resist these changes. I believe a happy median can be found between the Lyndon Johnson approach, which favored an activist federal approach to solving problems and the Ronald Reagan approach, which advocated allowing states to take the lead in solving the problems of the people. My work as a Councilperson, Mayor, County Commissioner and State Representative reflected this philosophy.

What is your opinion on:

Raising the age of Medicare eligibility?

I oppose raising the Medicare eligibility age.

Taxing investor income on municipal bonds?

The thing that makes Municipal Bonds attractive to investors in the Tax-Free income offered. To make them less desirable by taxing the return on investment would not be in the best interest of local units of Government and could stall badly need infrastructure improvements and other projects.

Establishing an Internet sales tax?

I think a compromise can be worked out from the current Marketplace Fairness Act language reducing the unfairness to traditional brick and mortar entities and preventing internet based businesses from having to file taxes and face audits in every state where their customers reside

Transportation-related infrastructure and prioritization of road repair vs. transit vs. non-motorized projects?

I have traveled extensively to Europe (England, Germany, Norway, Italy, Greece and France) as well as Israel and Dubai. I am amazed at the quality of public transportation and would like very much to see more of our transportation investment made in to trains, streetcars, subways.

Energy policy and how it may support local investments in renewable power and support for financial incentives to increase energy efficiency?

Having served as Chairman of the Energy and Technology committee in the Michigan House and championing the 2008 rewrite of the state’s energy laws I think I can speak intelligently about renewables and energy efficiency. The least expensive and cleanest power is the power we didn’t ever have to generate. There is still plenty of opportunity to make efficiency improvements and to expand from the 10% from renewables by 2015 law that I enacted. I would like to see both efficiency and renewable generation laws enacted at the Federal level.