AZ Senate Candidate Richard Carmona Talks Immigration, Jobs

Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona is running as a Democrat for Senate in Arizona because, as he told NewsTaco, he hopes to use his unique set of experiences to bring practical solutions to his state. He told NewsTaco that his personal and professional experiences have positioned him to contribute to creating real solutions to the Senate, and for the people of Arizona.

“Every issue that is germane to Arizona, to the country, I have experience with,” he told us, alluding to his experiences as the homeless child of Puerto Rican émigrés in New York, as a soldier in Vietnam, as a veteran, as a physician and businessman, Surgeon General of the U.S. and in law enforcement. “What I bring to the table is fairly unique, the issues I’ve dealt with include foreign policy, the military, the border and as a doctor.”

Carmona says he’s lived the American Dream, which is why it’s important to him to help others achieve theirs. He told NewsTaco he intends to go about implementing policy by behaving as a statesman — not a politician — and re-establish civil debate and cooperation with his peers. As someone who’s run a health system, Carmona says his work in the Senate would be akin to work he did with a board of directors, “We are not going to be able to address these issues unless we can find a reasonable set of individuals who can sit down at the table an realize that it is our privilege to serve,” he said.

Immigration is an issue particularly salient to Arizona and because of proximity to the border, it’s an economic issue as well. Carmona calls for a solution that deals with immigration in a “rational” manner and includes a path to citizenship — similar to President Ronald Reagan, as well as Arizona Senator John McCain who co-sponsored the original DREAM Act. The DREAM Act is not a “handout,” he said, “It’s about giving people the opportunity to rise to the next level.”

Carmona said the politicized nature of immigration, especially in Arizona, drowns out the reality that good immigration policy could positively impact the economy. Jobs in Arizona are a big issue that collides with foreclosures and Carmona has a few ideas on how to address both. Arizona is rich in natural resources and he proposes that investing in the energy sector, as well as pushing innovation and entrepreneurship, could help his state prosper.

On a personal level, Carmona said that as a Latino, he’s particularly proud to be able to represent his country. “I think it’s long overdue, for one, and of course all the Latino leaders I know recognize we don’t just represent Latinos, we represent all Americans — but we do it in a culturally competent manner,” he said. Serving in the Senate would be a continuation of the service Carmona said he began when he served in the Army during the Vietnam War.

“In a generation, I went from a homeless child of immigrants to Surgeon General of the United States. I got a lot to return,” Carmona told NewsTaco. “My goal is to make my country better for those who come in the pipeline behind me to put in an infrastructure of opportunity — that’s what I intend to do.”