On the Record: Nevada Republican treasurer candidate Michele Fiore

That is an installment in a collection of “On the File” items highlighting the coverage stances of candidates operating for main workplaces within the 2022 Nevada election. Examine again within the coming days and weeks for extra protection. You could find our protection of Fiore’s opponent, Zach Conine, right here.

Las Vegas Metropolis Councilwoman Michele Fiore described herself as a “workaholic” throughout a Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce candidate forum final month.

She touted her many years of entrepreneurship — having been CEO of a development agency, a house well being care firm, a consulting firm, and a publishing agency — and expertise as a former state legislator, from 2012 to 2016, and Ward 6 councilwoman for Las Vegas since 2017.

Fiore, a Republican, initially launched a marketing campaign for governor final yr however withdrew and switched races to problem incumbent Democratic Treasurer Zach Conine in his run for re-election.

Her relationship with rancher Cliven Bundy and the Bundy household helped finish a 2016 FBI standoff at Malheur Nationwide Wildlife Refuge in Oregon in opposition to an anti-government militia group led by Bundy’s son Ammon Bundy. In 2014, she had been concerned in Cliven Bundy’s standoff with the BLM in Bunkerville.

Fiore is at the moment going through a marketing campaign finance probe by the FBI, which raided her dwelling final yr.

Treasurers serve four-year phrases with limits to 2 phrases. The elected statewide officer is accountable for investing the state’s cash, financing neighborhood belongings and amenities, processing funds for public businesses and managing quite a few scholarship packages.

On the candidate discussion board in Pahrump, she stated her prime points are transparency (particularly making the treasurer’s web site extra consumer pleasant) and auditing “every part that is happening.”

“When I’ve a billion {dollars} of a portfolio to speculate our taxpayer {dollars} in, you want to have the ability to get on the web site, take a look at it, take a look at the place our cash is, and see the place it is going,” she stated. “And you then’re gonna know precisely what’s taking place together with your cash and what is going on on in that treasurer’s workplace.”

Fiore’s marketing campaign didn’t reply to a number of requests for an interview for the Indy’s “On the File” collection. A abstract of her coverage positions, taken from public statements and media appearances, is included under.

Economic system

On Twitter, Fiore has blamed inflation on present Democratic management. She stated they must be changed, and she or he known as for “deliver[ing] again widespread sense fiscal conservatism to repair the financial system.”

A lot of her marketing campaign messaging focuses on criticizing federal spending, together with packages such because the Inflation Discount Act, which she stated is worsening inflation.

Most financial specialists say rising inflation comes from a mix of sources, such because the pandemic stimulus and aid help, lowered rates of interest, and demand and provide (unable to maintain up).

In relation to diversifying Nevada’s financial system, Fiore urged in a tweet that sure occupations, corresponding to barbers and inside designers, shouldn’t require a license as a result of it “prevents Nevadans from getting jobs doing issues that should not have a barrier to entry.”

She has additionally stated that reducing regulations within the mining and e-sports industries would assist financial diversification efforts.

Whereas Conine has led the cost in Nevada to divest from assault weapon producers and sellers, Fiore stated she would reasonably put money into these corporations that might have a excessive return due to the big gun proprietor inhabitants within the state. An estimated 47 % of Nevada adults have weapons of their properties.

“As your subsequent state treasurer, I’m seeking to make investments, to not divest … We do not choose and select politics on the businesses we put money into. We choose and select what’s greatest for you and this state,” she stated to the Pahrump viewers.

Fiore has additionally claimed on Twitter that the state’s multi-billion greenback price range is in a deficit, though the Nevada Structure requires the state to have a balanced price range — revenues should equal expenditures.

Throughout the candidate discussion board, Fiore boasted about her expertise engaged on the state’s price range as an assemblywoman and the Metropolis of Las Vegas price range as a councilwoman.

“And I will inform you, there’s a variety of wasteful spending, a variety of wasteful spending,” Fiore stated. “I am a line merchandise by line merchandise lady. And I will be questioning every part. And we’ll be ensuring everyone seems to be held accountable.”

Tax points

Fiore’s historical past of economic points dates again many years.

In late 2014, reviews that the IRS had filed lots of of 1000’s of {dollars} price of liens (costs for neglecting or failing to pay a tax debt) in opposition to her and her dwelling well being care enterprise resulted in her being changed as majority chief within the Meeting and faraway from the taxation committee.

In Might, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported that Fiore’s marketing campaign stated she has paid her money owed to the federal authorities however didn’t present any documentation.

For the reason that begin of her political profession, Fiore by no means listed any of her money owed to the IRS in her marketing campaign monetary disclosure types, which candidates and elected officers are required to do.

Increased training

Fiore has been vital of the Biden administration’s federal scholar mortgage forgiveness plan for not addressing “predatory loans,” and stated that it might lead to schools charging college students extra.

The worth tag of scholar mortgage forgiveness, estimated at $24 billion a yr or about $240 billion over a decade, would contribute to inflation, she stated in a tweet.

The treasurer’s workplace administers faculty financial savings plans, together with what are known as 529 packages, made up of the Nevada Pay as you go Tuition Program that permits dad and mom to lock within the present in-state faculty tuition charges and make month-to-month installments into the fund. The workplace additionally oversees 5 packages administered by means of faculty financial savings plan companions, wherein account holders can deposit after-tax cash for future faculty financial savings.

Moreover, the workplace manages the Nevada Faculty Kickstart initiative that awards each public faculty kindergartener a free $50 scholarship to encourage dad and mom to begin saving for the scholar’s future training, and the Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship that awards as much as $10,000 in tuition to in-state college students who attend a Nevada college or faculty.

Fiore stated the state also needs to put money into older adults getting a better training or going again to highschool.

“Innovation is one thing actually vital … In addition to specializing in our youngsters, we have to give attention to adults going again to varsity,” she stated, recounting the expertise of a UNLV graduate who earned her diploma in psychology to begin her personal counseling enterprise at 72 years previous.

Fiore has additionally called for an audit of the state’s Okay-12 price range, in addition to elevated dad or mum involvement in curriculum and college spending.

— This story was used with permission of The Nevada Unbiased. Go right here for updates to this and different tales.