Representative Sally Ann Gonzales has a long history of public service. Prior to her election to the House in 2010 and the Senate in 2018, she served in the state legislature from 1997-2000, and in the Pascua Yaqui Tribal Council from 1992-1996.
A strong proponent for quality education, health care and children’s, women’s, and employee rights, Sally has sponsored and/or co-sponsored legislation to improve the lives of women and children that made positive improvements in education and health care for all.
Sally holds a BA in Elementary Education from Arizona State University and a Masters in Multicultural Education from the University of Arizona and was a full time education professional before beginning her political career. Her professional experience includes teaching, teacher training, and administration for Tucson Unified School District, Tempe Elementary Schools, Arizona State University, and University of Arizona. After leaving the legislature in 2000, she continued within her profession, serving as the Education Director of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.
Throughout her adult life, Sally has been involved in a wide range of civic activities to promote the rights of minority populations, especially Indigenous and Hispanic communities who are the historical and cultural foundation of Arizona. She is currently the president of the board of Guadalupe Affordable Housing Inc. (GAHI), a for-profit corporation that conducts real estate development, specifically single and multi-family affordable housing developments. Its objectives are to promote the availability of quality and affordable housing for low- to moderate-income individuals and families.
Sally was born in Brawley, California and raised in the Yaqui community of Guadalupe, Arizona with her ten sisters and brothers. She is married to longtime Pascua Yaqui tribal councilman Luis Gonzales with whom she has five daughters and 22 grandchildren.