Job creation and education investment are two things that Andrei Cherny believes need to be taken more seriously in Yuma and throughout Arizona.

That is why Cherny, a Democrat, is running for state treasurer in the 2010 election.

The state needs "to create opportunities for people looking to stay in Yuma," as well as other Arizona cities, he said.

Cherny announced his bid for the treasurer's seat April 15 and has been campaigning ever since. He made a stop in Yuma Wednesday to hold a town hall meeting at the Yuma County Democratic Headquarters.

In an interview with the Yuma Sun, Cherny said one of the biggest problems with Arizona's economic crisis is that money was invested into Wall Street rather than main streets across the state. His goal is to invest in "jobs of the future" such as alternative energy sources and high-tech jobs, things he said will create jobs throughout Arizona and in Yuma, which is suffering from unemployment.

He wants to "help struggling businesses gain a foothold," he said.

Cherny is a former assistant attorney general for Arizona and worked in the White House on economic policies in the 1990s. He also contributed to President Obama's current economic policies and during the 2008 campaign.

Although he has never officially held elective office, Cherny said, "I think I have the right mix of experience for this job. We're in this moment right now; we need some new leadership and new ideas."