2018 Endorsed Candidates

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Statewide Races

Katie Hobbs – Secretary of State

As the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Katie Hobbs has lead and continues to lead the Arizona Democratic Caucus in their tough fight against extremist legislation that harms women, children and families. As a Senator, she has passed important legislation expanding health care, protecting domestic violence victims and stopping cuts to education. As a professional social…

January Contreras – Attorney General

January’s entire career has been about defending our communities. A former county prosecutor and Assistant Attorney General, January worked as an advisor to Janet Napolitano. Coming back to Arizona from Washington D.C., she founded Arizona Legal Women and Youth Services (ALWAYS), a non-profit that provides free legal services for children, youth and women impacted by…

Kiana Sears – Corporation Commission

Kiana Sears is a community advocate, engaged ASU Sun Devil, nonprofit community leader, and a seasoned public policy professional. Her commitment to service is inspired by her father, a Vietnam veteran, and her mother, a dedicated civil servant in municipal water services for many years. Sears loves the beautiful State of Arizona and believes we…

Kathy Hoffman – Superintendent of Public Instruction

Kathy Hoffman is a dedicated educator who is committed to improving educational achievement for all of Arizona’s students. She currently works as a speech therapist in the Peoria Unified School District and has spent her entire professional career in our public schools. Her passion for education arrives from personal experience in a diverse array of…

Councilmember Kate Gallego – Mayor of Phoenix

Since being elected to Phoenix City Council in 2013, Kate Gallego’s entrepreneurial spirit and extensive economic development knowledge have helped transform Phoenix’s economy and revitalize the city’s transportation system. Kate’s proven track record includes leading the campaign to pass Phoenix’s citywide transportation plan and spearheading the successful Phoenix Equal Pay Ordinance. Kate is passionate…

Mayor Coral Evans – Flagstaff

Mayor Coral Evans was elected as Mayor in November 2016. Although new to the position of Mayor, Ms. Evans is not new to the Flagstaff City Council. She was first elected to serve on the Flagstaff City Council in 2008 and reelected in 2012. She served as Vice Mayor of the City from 2012-2014. Mayor…

Ginny Dickey – Mayor of Fountain Hills

Ginny Dickey is bringing her decades of local experience including two terms as a Councilwoman and FHUSD Board Member to the 2018 race for Fountain Hills Mayor. Since moving to Fountain Hills in 1983, Ginny has been very involved in the community and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010. She participated in…

Vania Guevara – Phoenix City Council District 5

Vania Guevara is a first-generation Salvadoran American. Growing up, Vania’s parents showed her and her siblings the importance of hard work and helping others. Now Vania is ready to lead Phoenix communities forward as a member of the City Council. Vania’s parents immigrated to the United States after civil war broke out in El Salvador.…

Jen Duff – Mesa City Council District 4

Jen Duff is a Mesa native and a longtime leader in the Mesa community. In addition to serving as a member of the City of Mesa Zoning and Planning Board and of the Mesa Community College Development Board, Jen is also honorary Board Chair of the i.d.e.a children’s museum and an active member of the…

Joyce Jones-Ivey, Oro Valley Town Council

Joyce Jones-Ivey is a retired nurse who proudly served patients for 42 years. She is running for the Oro Valley Town Council to keep the town community oriented, fiscally sound, and environmentally and financially sustainable. Joyce grew up in a family of nine siblings. Her parents taught her the importance of honesty, integrity, hard work,…

Alexis Hermosillo – Mayor of El Mirage

Alexis Hermosillo is a proud fourth-generation resident of the City of El Mirage. Alexis currently works for a public transportation company in the Maricopa county area, and previously worked for the U.S. House of Representatives as a district representative for Congressman Raúl Grijalva. Alexis is a firm believer that knowledge is power. She holds an…

Brittany Burback – Peoria City Council

Brittany Burback and her family have been Peoria residents for over 20 years. The oldest of seven children, Brittany is a first-generation American, as well as the first in her family to graduate from college and the first to achieve a doctoral degree. Brittany attended Peoria High School and became interested in law and government…

Solange Whitehead – Scottsdale City Council

In 1996 Solange Whitehead came to Scottsdale, intended to stay for “just six months”, fell in love and never left. She running for Scottsdale City Council to preserve the charm and quality of life of her community. Solange is an electrical engineer, real estate investor, and executive director of the Environmental Fund for Arizona. Her…

Janice Hudson – Sedona City Council

Janice Hudson first visited Sedona fifteen years ago and knew it was where she was meant to be. Since moving to Sedona with her husband and their dog, Duffy, she has become an active community member and a dedicated volunteer with Arizona Crisis Team, the League of Women Voters, and Sedona Women. Janice has over…

Sen. Andrea Dalessandro – LD 2 Senate

An East Coast native residing Sahuarita, Andrea Dalessandro has dedicated her life to civic, community, local and regional service. Elected to the Arizona State House of Representatives in 2012 by the voters in LD2, Andrea’s work as a legislator is driven by her commitment to give the students of Arizona the same educational opportunities that…

Rep. Sally Ann Gonzales – LD 3 Senate

Representative Sally Ann Gonzales has a long history of public service. Prior to her election to the House in 2010, 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…

Sen. Lisa Otondo – LD 4 Senate

Lisa Otondo was elected to the Senate in 2016 after serving two terms in the House of Representatives. As a second-generation Arizonan born and raised in Yuma, she comes from a large Basque family with deep farming roots. This upbringing has given her a keen awareness of the issues and challenges facing farming and rural…

Sen. Jamescita Peshlakai – LD 7 Senate

Arizona Native Jamescita Mae Peshlakai was first elected to the state legislature in 2012. A combat veteran of the Persian Gulf War, Jamescita served in the US Army for 8 years. As a parent, she is committed to restoring public education funding, working to make healthcare affordable, improving public safety and protecting Arizona’s most…

Sharon Girard – LD 8 Senate

Sharon Girard has spent over thirty years as a physician’s assistant, working with Planned Parenthood, rural and migrants health clinics, and emergency departments. As a volunteer in free clinics she worked closely with women, men and families who had no health insurance, or not enough.Their stories and struggles spurred Sharon to political advocacy and action.…

Victoria Steele – Senate LD 9

Victoria Steele is an award-winning, accomplished motivational speaker, teacher, and trainer. For 25 years she was a radio and television journalist, and is a is a twice-elected former Democratic member of the Arizona House of Representatives, serving from 2013 – 2016. Prior to entering politics, Victoria was a master’s level professional counselor helping women struggling…

Rep. Lela Alston – LD 24 Senate

Lela Alston has represented central and east Phoenix, and south Scottsdale in the legislature since 2011. She strongly believes in public education and she credits Arizona’s kindergarten through university educational system for making the difference in her ability to help others. During her current tenure in the Arizona House, she worked to pass bipartisan legislation…

Rep. Rebecca Rios – LD 27 Senate

Representative Rebecca Rios was elected to represent LD27 in 2014, and currently serves as the House Democratic Leader. She has a long personal and family history of public service. Rebecca represented a rural Pinal county in the legislature from 1995-2010, and is the daughter of Pete Rios, former Arizona State Senate President. Rebecca and Pete…

Christine Porter Marsh – LD 28 Senate

Christine Porter Marsh is an educator who’s spent over 25 years in Arizona classrooms and touched the lives of more than 3,500 students. In 2016 she was honored as the Arizona Education Foundation Teacher of the Year. It’s her dedication and concern for not just her students but all students in Arizona that motivated her…

Rep. Rosanna Gabaldón – LD 2 House

Rosanna Gabaldón was elected to the State House in 2012. In her first two sessions at the legislature she has worked to ensure that Southern Arizona’s interests were heard. Rosanna is a dedicated public servant and an experienced legislator. She arrived in Sahuarita in 2004 and served on the Towns Parks and Recreation Commission, and…

Alma Hernandez – LD 3 House

Alma Hernandez was born and raised on the south side of Tucson, and is a proud product of Sunnyside Unified schools. When she was just 14 years old she was the victim of a violent attack, suffering spinal injuries that still affect her today. In the aftermath, Alma witnessed the criminal justice system and school-to-prison…

Rep. Dr. Geraldine Peten – LD 4 House

Dr. Geraldine Peten was appointed to representative Legislative District 4 in August 2017. She is an educator and administrator with over 20 years of experience leading and improving primary and secondary schools in Arizona. Rep. Peten is an educational consultant. She holds two Master’s degrees, and earned her Doctorate of Education at NAU. In the…

Rep. Charlene Fernandez – LD 4 House

State Representative Charlene Fernandez is the Democratic Whip of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 4th Legislative District. She was first elected to the state House in 2014. Charlene has been making her mark on Arizona politics for more than 25 years. She worked for Congressman Ed Pastor for twelve years, coordinating constituent services…

Felicia French – LD 6 House

Felicia is a third generation Arizona with a proven commitment to public service. She is a combat veteran, nurse, and teacher with over 32 years of experience. Now she’s ready use her experience and commitment in the Arizona State House representing Legislative District 6. Felicia served in the United States Army for 32 years as…

Linda Gross – LD 8 House

Linda Gross is a publisher, marketing consultant, journalist, photographer and entrepreneur. She is the founder, owner and operator of the Globe Miami Times, a community-based newspaper with a distribution of 59,000 print, digital and social media readers. Linda has been actively involved in community issues and economic development for over a decade. She served on…

Carmen Casillas – LD 8 House

Carmen Casillas was born and raised in Globe, Arizona. She served as a City of Globe Councilwoman for four years and as vice-mayor for two. She is the founder and CEO of the Domestic Violence Victims Advocate (DVVA) Response Team, which she ran for 10 years. Carmen has a long history of community service and…

Rep. Pamela Power Hannley – LD 9 House

Pamela Powers Hannley was elected to the Arizona House in 2016. A mother of 2, small business owner, nonprofit founder and proud progressive Democrat, Pamela has called Tucson home since 1981. During her first year in the legislature, Pamela voted against all new tax cuts for big corporations, fought for increased funding for K-12 public…

Rep. Kirsten Engel – LD 10 House

A first term state representative, Kirsten Engel arrived at the legislature in 2017 as a strong advocate for funding public schools, expanding career and technical education, reducing college debt, and investing in clean energy. Kirsten’s experience in government and public service began long before her 2016 election to the Arizona State House. In addition…

Colonel (ret.) Hollace Lyon – LD 11 House

During 26 years as a U.S. Air Force communications and computer officer, Colonel (retired) Hollace Lyon commanded twice, served at the NATO Headquarters in Belgium, and taught war planning at Armed Forces Staff College to multi-national military leaders. In her last assignment she was the Education and Training Manager for 90,000 Communications personnel and served…

Jennifer Pawlik – LD 17 House

Jennifer Pawlik is a native Arizonan who’s served for 17 years as an educator in public elementary schools. It was during her time as a classroom teacher that she realized that if positive change was going to happen in Arizona’s public education system, she would have to quit complaining, get involved and fight for it.…

Rep. Mitzi Epstein – LD 18 House

Mitzi Epstein was elected to the State House in 2016. A computer systems analyst and small business owner, she is focused on listening to her community and working collaboratively to improve the quality of life for Arizonans. Prior to running for the legislature, Mitzi spent years working at the community and state levels to promote…

Heather Macre – CAWCD Board

Heather Macre came to Arizona in 2008, and immersed herself in both the local political scene and in conservation efforts. Heather was elected to the Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board in 2014. The CAWCD board oversees the operations of the Central Arizona Project, a 336-mile system of aqueducts, tunnels, pumping plans and pipelines that…

Jennifer Martin – CAWCD Board

Jennifer Martin is a life-long Arizonan. The daughter of an archaeologist living less than a mile from the Superstition Mountain Wilderness Area, she grew up immersed in Arizona’s amazing natural and cultural resources. A product of the Arizona school system, she attended Apache Junction School District K-12 and graduated from Northern Arizona University with a degree in…

Roberta Neil Miller – Maricopa County Clerk

Roberta Neil Miller is an experienced attorney and public servant. After graduating from ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law in 1983, Roberta began her career as a public servant and got right to work fighting for communities across the Valley. She served as a prosecuting attorney in Superior, Municipal, and Justice Courts in Maricopa…

Debi Chess Mabie – Pima Community College Governing Board, District 5

Debi Chess Mabie has over 25 years of nonprofit program development and leadership experience in a variety of sectors– including youth and community development and arts-based economic development. She received a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Wright State University, and a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at…

Adelita Grijalva – Tucson Unified School District Governing Board

Adelita Grijalva is a Tucson native and Pueblo High School alumni. She was the youngest woman ever elected to the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board, and is currently serving her fourth term. Adelita is firmly committed to improving the quality of life for Pima County residents. She is actively involved in the Pueblo community,…

Laura Pastor – Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board

Phoenix native Laura Pastor is a fifth-generation Arizonan who graduated from St. Mary’s High School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Arizona State University. Her grandparents and great-grandparents worked in Eastern Arizona’s mining communities, and both her parents began their careers as classroom teachers. For four years, Laura was also a…

Corina Madruga – Tolleson Union High School District Governing Board

Corina Madruga was elected to the Tolleson Union High School District Governing Board in 2014, and is in her second year of service as Board President. She’s earned two degrees in business administration, and is an alumni of the Valle del Sol Hispanic Leadership Institute. Corina has worked in the public sector for over 20…

Katie Paetz – Osborn Elementary School District Governing Board

Katie Paetz currently serves the Osborn Board as its President. An experienced teacher, for 12 years she’s worked in Arizona schools. In that time she’s been a staunch advocate for student growth and excellence in our public schools. As board president she’s fought for policy protecting all gender identities, led the process of selecting a…

Stephanie Parra – Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board

Stephanie Parra is an experienced educator committed to improving public schools in Arizona. She is a first generation American citizen, born and raised in Yuma, and is a product of Arizona public schools. As one of the first in her family to attend college, Stephanie understands the power of a great education. Stephanie holds B.S.…

Elora Diaz – Phoenix Elementary School District Governing Board

Elora Diaz is an Arizona native and a first-generation college graduate who is dedicated to serving her community. She holds two degrees from Arizona State University and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership. After graduating from college, Elora joined Teach for America, and taught seventh grade in the Isaac School District. She then…

Maria Castro – Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board

Maria Castro is a native Phoenician, community organizer, and mother. After the passage of SB1070 in 2010, Maria was inspired to become politically active and has been fighting for our communities ever since. As National Coordinator for the Southwest Region for United We Dream, Maria helped oversee the full implementation of DACA in the Southwest…

Consuelo Hernandez – Sunnyside Unified School District Governing Board

Consuelo Hernandez is a proud graduate of the Sunnyside School District, and is proud to call the Sunnyside community her home. She holds a B.A. in Global Health from Arizona State University, and knows first-hand the struggles of a young minority students navigating through the college system, being told they cannot succeed. With few resources…

Eva Carrillo Dong – Sunnyside Unified School District

Eva Carrillo Dong is an at-large member of the Sunnyside Unified School District Governing Board in Arizona. She was first elected to the office in 1998. Eva works as a Title 1 coordinator and lead teacher in the Pima Accommodation District of the Court Alternative Program of Education. She is a member of the Environmental Justice Action Group’s Community…

Leila Counts – Tucson Unified School District Governing Board

Leila Counts is a dedicated educator, small business owner, TUSD parent, and the descendant of a long line of Arizona educators. She began her career teaching life skills, history and cultural studies to children with behavioral challenges, and it was in this role that she developed her passion for education. She was honored to play…

Lindsay Love – Chandler Unified School District Governing Board

Lindsay Love is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Masters in Social Work from the University of Southern California. Dedicated to social justice issues, she works closely with teens and adults who have experience trauma, and endeavors to create safe spaces for marginalized voices. Lindsay has experience with narrative therapy approaches that allow survivors…

Naketa Ross – Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board

Naketa Ross is a long-time advocate for the wellness of Arizona families and children. As a foster care child, Naketa learned the importance of education to empowering young people and setting the groundwork for their future success. Naketa has focused her career on advocating for marginalized youth. The gap in services provided for young people…

2018 Endorsed Candidates

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