Republican Peter Vroman says he wants to bring jobs back to the 111th Assembly District.

In a rematch of the race two years ago, Vroman is challenging Democratic incumbent Angelo Santabarbara.

“With 32,000 votes in 2014, I lost by about 1,000,” he said, “and we were outspent 10 to 1.”

Vroman says he would bring a fresh perspective to a job he is well prepared for. “I’ve been a public servant for 32 years,” he said. At 55, he is a retired United States marshal. The father of six children, he lives in Canajoharie with his wife, Laurie.

Vroman says that five days after his 2014 retirement as a marshal, he was appointed undersheriff for Montgomery County. “I brought in $1.8 million to the county with federal prison borders,” he said.

He also said, “I know how to do more with less. I know how to fight corruption, to fight the bad guys.”

Asked about his goals if elected, Vroman said, “I want to make more good things happen for people in the legislative district and less bad things. Number one is we need more jobs. Jobs made this area.”

Asked how to fund public schools more fairly, Vroman said, “The schools need to be looked at individually. There has to be a fair process so money is allotted more fairly.”

On judging teachers by student test results, he said, “I’m happy with their rescinding it for four years.”

He went on, “I’m not in favor of Common Core; it was faulty legislation. Any time you call back pieces, it shows it wasn’t done well.”

When it comes to setting standards, Vroman said, “I’m in support of local control of education. I am not for Common Core. Let the teachers teach.”

Asked what programs he favors to meet the state’s renewable energy commitment, Vroman said, “I was on a committee in Canajoharie for solar…My acreage was approached for a solar farm. I’m all for it.”

He would have agreed to using his “back 20 acres” for a solar farm but “the company moved out to the west — that’s OK,” he said.

Vroman explained there was a six-month moratorium on solar in Canajoharie while the committee did its work.

“We need regulations on setback and height to blend in,” said Vroman.

On gun control, Vroman said, “I do not support the SAFE Act. It should be pulled back. The way they passed it — emotionally in the middle of the night without the public having a voice — wasn’t right.”

Vroman went on, “As a lifetime law-enforcement professional, there were already adequate firearms laws.” He also said, “No matter how many laws you have, the bad guys will not pay attention.”

Further, he said the SAFE Act wasn’t well thought out. Vroman was a federal marshal at the time it was passed. “I was carrying more rounds than it allowed. It made me a criminal…Later, they made an exception for law enforcement. But, when you have to call back pieces, it shows they didn’t think it through.”

On the heroin epidemic, Vroman said, “Being I public safety my whole life, I’m aware of the heroin epidemic.”

He said he talked to a recovering heroin addict — “a beautiful, brave young woman” — to find out “what led her down this path.” Vroman said, “I got a lot of answers…My take-away was peer education. Kids will listen to other kids. You don’t want to preach. Kids will be rebellious.”

Vroman also said that tightening up on prescription drugs has helped.

On the LLC loophole, Vroman said, “It should be an even playing field for everyone. It’s simple.” On allowable contributions, he said, “The threshold for my dad or for General Electric  should be the same amount of money.”

Vroman concluded, “I’ve been a lifetime public servant. To this day, I serve on the boards of a lot of community action programs,” he said, naming youth groups, a haven for women, and helping with Toys for Tots.