Candidate Q&A: Khalid Muneer, U.S. Rep. District 10 (DEM)

Editor's note: Candidates responses have not been edited for grammar and are presented as received.

KHALID MUNEER

BIO INFO

Age: 71

City/town of residence: Orlando, FL District 10 Metro West

Family: Wife: Shabnam; 5 Children: Shazad, Afsha, Aisha, Maha, Rida

Education: Graduated, Business, and Commerce, Leadership Orlando, 2019 Graduated, Political Science and Government, Central Florida Political Leadership, 2018 Diploma, Banking, Corporate Finance, Securities Law, Institute of Bankers, London, 1975-1977, and BS, Behavioral Science, Aston University, 1970-1974

Qualifications: I, § 2, cl. 2, provides that a person may qualify as a Representative if he/she is at least 25 years old, has been a United States citizen for at least 7 years, and is an inhabitant, at the time of the election, of the state in which he/she is chosen. With my 17 years in banking, 30 years building my businesses, and my deep commitment to our community. It’s time, especially with our nation's economic situation today for me to use my degree in economics to help the Democrat Party and our President.   

U.S. REP DISTRICT 10 Q&A (DEM)

What are the key differences between you and your opponents?

My goal in this election is not to go to Washington DC to serve the community but instead to serve the community when I’m in Washington DC. For the past 6 years, our Representatives have been inaccessible to the community in a meaningful way and it’s this election that will send a community leader who'll bring back constituents serves as a number one priority.

What are the values and morals that have guided your life, and how will use them as District 10 representative? 

We are taught collective morality in the Qur'an regarding equality, justice, fairness, brotherhood, mercy, compassion, solidarity, and freedom of choice. Leaders are responsible for applying these principles and are accountable to God and man for their administration. Compassion for the community and my strong faith will guide me to help the people first and not just the powerful will have a voice in Washington DC

As District 10 representative, describe how you will work across the aisle.

It has been said that "While neither man [Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neil] embraced the other’s worldview, each respected the other’s right to hold it. Each respected the other as a living person.” As District 10 US Representative it will be respect and determination that will allow us to work together and find real solutions to our nation’s problems. If the representatives in Washington DC aren’t working they should be in their home district with the people.

Describe the state of our nation’s economy and what steps need to be taken to improve it. 

The Committee for Responsible Federal Budget explained it the best on June 30, 2022. They said, "Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) inflation rose by 6.3 percent over the past year and 0.6 percent last month, according to new data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, well above the Federal Reserve's 2 percent annual (0.166 percent monthly) target." Likewise, Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation is up 8.6 percent – the highest over four decades.

Bringing down the deficit is the best way to ease inflationary pressures.

As a result, Congress could avoid further deficit-boosting measures by lowering health care costs, reducing consumption-oriented spending, promoting work, savings, and investment, or lowering energy, trade, and procurement costs. The Inflation Reduction Act would reduce the tax gap, but congress should do more to help our economy. 

Define “recession.” 

A recession is a significant, widespread, and prolonged downturn in economic activity. President Clinton defined a recession as: "A recession is two quarters in a row of negative growth." That would be an accurate definition. Because recessions often last six months or more, the famous rule is two consecutive quarters of decline in a country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). So, by definition, this month, we would be in recession.

What is your evaluation of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision? 

The government is responsible for protecting its population, so it must protect reproductive health. Unfortunately, this Trump activist court removed this important protection nationally and sent the power to protect women to the individual states. We should act in Congress to pass legislation to protect a woman's body from government intrusion.

Describe the state of our education system and what steps need to be taken to improve it. 

We want every child – no matter their ZIP code – to have access to a quality public K-12 education and for college to be affordable for every American. But unfortunately, quality public K-12 education doesn't exist today because our schools lack teachers. After all, we have not provided clear protection from mass shootings. Instead, We also fail to provide free college and trade schools to help transition students into quality careers. Rather, we have teacher shortages, security concerns, and insufficient education investment.

What is the cause of division in the United States, and how can we improve it?

The cause of division in the United States is caused by a failure to respect people's differences in opinion to lifestyle. The media isn’t helping as they take partisan positions on everything. Neutrality has been lost and journalists have started writing more opinions than news. A good book that tackles this subject was written by a local politico, the book is Bringing America Together Again, self-published by Joel Hawksley on Amazon. The only way we improve this is by respecting each other’s opinions and lifestyles. Perspective is important so understanding our differences would greatly help. 

What is your position on the United States’ involvement in Ukraine? 

The current level of intervention is sufficient. We can’t continue to send our military to help police the world. Having lived in nine countries, I see diplomacy as the most crucial action, and Europe should broker this peace.