Arizona
| Arizona Legislature | ||
Democrats |
Republicans |
|
| Senate | ||
| 2006 | 12 |
18 |
| Today | 13 |
17 |
| House | ||
| 2006 | 21 |
39 |
| Today | 27 |
33 |
Since the early 1990's, conservatives have been on the rise — they took control of the majorities of Governorships, state legislatures, the U.S. Congress, and elected a president. Yet, also in the 1990's, another strange thing occurred: Despite being the only state to vote Republican in every presidential election from 1952—1992, Arizona became competitive.
Arizona is the second—fastest growing state in the nation (Nevada is first) — its population grew 52% from 1990 to 2003. It is now home to descendents of the oldest Americans and some of the newest immigrants. It is this population growth that makes Arizona competitive and it's in the state where the opportunities lie. Despite losing national elections, progressives have real opportunities to win locally and draw the new residents to voting for progressive Democrats.
A voluntary clean money system has been in effect in Arizona since 2000. That gives Progressive Majority the opportunity to recruit candidates early to run in every competitive race and train them under the system. Then they are free to campaign, without the focus on money, while we move on to recruit for the next election — literally paving the way to progressive power.
Arizona is a great state to test whether or not, when we have a strong candidate recruitment program in place, progressives can fare better politically under good campaign finance reform. Progressive Majority has already seen an increase in the number of progressives willing to run — and an increase in the numbers of women and people of color taking on the challenge.
Ted Maish
Candidate for State Senate - District 20 (Challenger)
Portions of Phoenix, Tempe, and Chandler
Ted Maish is a first-time candidate running for the State Senate in District 20. He is a precinct committee member and former teachers' union leader. He is challenging incumbent John Huppenthal, who is waging some of the right wing's most destructive battles. Huppenthal is one of the architects of a school voucher policy that was designed to undermine funding for public schools while providing a significant tax loophole to Arizona corporations. Legislative District 20 is one of the Democratic Party's top targets in 2008, as it is the most Democratic district in the state in which Republicans hold all three seats (two House, one Senate). Ted will bring a strong pro-labor voice to the legislature. He will also be a tireless advocate for Arizona's teachers and schoolchildren who suffer in some of the most under-funded classrooms in the country. Ted also advocates for healthcare reform to make Arizona a leader in protecting children, seniors, and working families.
Pat Fleming
Candidate for State Representative - District 25 (Open Seat)
Bisbee, Douglas, Gila Bend, Marana, and Nogales
Progressive Majority fielded Pat for her in her first bid for the House in District 25 in 2006 against an entrenched incumbent. While unsuccessful, Pat ran a great race and is running again, this time for an open seat. Pat is a retired member of AFGE, the federal government employees union. District 25 is a sprawling rural district that runs along much of the Mexican border where illegal crossing is occurring. Pat is retired from the Department of the Defense, where she oversaw multi-million dollars budgets. She is a Clean Elections candidate.
Angela Cotera
Candidate for State Senate - District 12 (Open Seat)
Avondale, Buckeye, El Mirage, Goodyear, Litchfield Park
Angela Cotera is an astrophysicist seeking office for the first time. She is running for the Senate in District 12. This district is in the fast-growing far western portion of Maricopa County and is part of our strategic plan. It includes the town of Avondale where last fall we fielded Marie Lopez Rogers in her successful race for mayor. While it is technically an open seat, ultra-conservative John Nelson, who is term-limited out of his Assembly seat, is attempting to trade seats with conservative Robert Blendu, the current Senate incumbent. In 2006, no Democrat ran for the Senate in District 12. Angela, grew up in Flagstaff. She holds a Ph.D. in applied physics from Stanford University and is a research astrophysicist for the Carl Sagan Center, SETI Institute. She has volunteered in schools for years to bring her passion for astronomy to students. She and her husband have lived in Avondale since 1991. During the 2006 elections, her frustration with elected political leaders at the local, state and national levels compelled her to run for office to change the political landscape of Arizona. Angela will provide representation to Arizona's Latino/a community as a Latina State Senator. She is running as a participating candidate under the Arizona Clean Elections law.
Cheryl Cage
Candidate for State Senate - District 26 (Open Seat)
Tucson, Oro Valley
Cheryl Cage is a candidate for the open Senate seat in the 26th legislative district. The Democratic incumbent has decided not to seek re-election. A retired member of the flight attendant's union, Cheryl is now a consultant in the aviation industry. As a small business owner, she understands the need for fiscal responsibility, and wants to rein in the irresponsible budget practices of the Republican majority in Phoenix. Progressive Majority has watched Cheryl's campaign since shortly after she filed, and she is a graduate of Emerge Arizona. Extreme right-wing candidate Al Melvin, the Republican nominee from the 2006 election who lost by fewer than 200 votes, is running once again. Melvin upset a popular, moderate, well-funded incumbent in last year's primary and is very capable of a repeat performance. Cheryl is unopposed in the Democratic primary. Cheryl is a Clean Elections candidate.
Shawn Hutchinson
Candidate for State Representative - District 9 (Open Seat)
Northwest Maricopa County, including Peoria, Glendale and Sun City
Shawn Hutchinson is a first-time candidate and union member running for the Arizona House of Representatives. This district will have one incumbent and one conservative held open seat. For Arizona House races, the top two finishers among the two Democratic and the two Republican candidates are elected. We recruited Shawn in August 2007 when we were working with his brother-in-law, John Williams, who ran successfully for the Surprise City Council. The incumbent in Shawn's race, Rick Murphy, is a right-wing conservative who is unpopular in his own caucus. Shawn is a third generation International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) member and sits on the executive board of IBEW 640. He and his wife, a school teacher, have three daughters. He is running under Arizona's Clean Elections law.
David Scanlon
Candidate for State Representative - District 12 (Open Seat)
Avondale, Buckeye, El Mirage, Goodyear, Litchfield Park
For the last 17 years, David Scanlon has served on the Pendergast School Board. He is running for the first time for the State House seat in District 12. This district is in the fast-growing far western portion of Maricopa County. In 2006, no Democrats ran in the district. David will face one of three ultra-conservative Republicans vying for the seat. He is an attorney and his wife is a public school teacher. As a school board member, David brought a stringed instrument program to the school at no taxpayer cost. Under his leadership, all schools in the district will have gymnasiums for use both during the school day and also for after school programs and summer usage. As an attorney, he has represented the elderly and people with disabilities against those who would take financial advantage. As a legislator, he will use his knowledge to tighten the law and fight to protect these very vulnerable members of our society. He is a participating Clean Elections candidate.
Krista Pacion
Candidate for State Representative - District 23 (Open Seat)
Casa Grande, rural Pinal County
Krista, an Emerge Arizona graduate, is running for a second time for an open seat in District 23. Progressive Majority has maintained close contact with Krista since her last run in 2006. In 2006, she lost in the primary; however, this time, she has the support of the Democratic leadership. Krista faces a competitive primary election with at least four candidates, including a Democratic incumbent, vying for two seats in the general. Protecting the Democratic seat in this district is essential to the Democratic Party winning the majority in the House. Krista is campaigning on a platform of common-sense fiscal reforms and improving funding for education. Krista is a Clean Elections candidate.
Don Jorgensen
Candidate for State Representative - District 26 (Open Seat)
Northern Tuscon and Oro Valley
Don Jorgensen, Ph.D., is running for an open seat in the Arizona House of Representatives Legislative District 26. He is a small business owner who serves on the Board of the Compass Healthcare Foundation and the Tucson/Pima County Commission on Addiction, Prevention, and Treatment. He has also served on the Arizona State Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, the YMCA of Metropolitan Tucson and is the former President of Great Tucson Leadership. In 2006, farm team member Lena Saradnik picked up this seat for the Democrats when an ultraconservative Republican emerged from the primary. Three Republicans have filed to run at this time; two are far right-wingers and one is positioning himself as a moderate.
Andrea Dalessandro
Candidate for State Representative - District 30 (Open Seat)
Southern Pima County, Santa Cruz County, Cochise County, Including Sierra Vista and Wilcox
Andrea Dalessandro is a first-time candidate running for the House of Representatives in District 30, which has two open seats currently held by Republicans. Andrea is a graduate of Emerge, our partner organization. She is a certified public accountant and a former high school math teacher. For Arizona House races, the top two finishers among the two democratic and the two republican primary victors are elected. Andrea is the only Democrat running for the House. Four Republicans are running for two slots on the general election ballot. Two are running as participating Clean Elections candidates and two are running traditionally. This race is viable due in large part to Andrea's tireless campaigning in the last year.
Ed Hermes
Candidate for Maricopa County Supervisor - District 1 (Challenger)
Ed Hermes is running for the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, District 1. Ed is a 23-year-old up-and-coming politician with a very bright future. At his young age, he has already served two years on the Arizona Board of Regents, which oversees Arizona's university system, and has been an outspoken and prominent advocate for students facing double-digit percentage tuition increases. Ed also served as political director of Ironworkers 75 and has applied to join SEIU. He currently serves as the Director of External Affairs for the Arizona Department of Agriculture, where he oversees the communication, legislative affairs and community outreach for the department. Ed's opponent is a three-term incumbent with strong ties to anti-environment developers and has never faced a competitive election. Ed's campaign will focus on holding the Board of Supervisors accountable for out-of-control spending, government waste, and failure to exercise oversight over other scandal-ridden Republican officials.
Rick Heumann
Candidate for Chandler City Council - At Large (Open Seat)
Rick Heumann, who is running for the Chandler City Council, is a long-time resident of Chandler and has been active in the community for more than 20 years. Rick has served eight years on the city planning and zoning commission, has served on several other city commissions, and has been president of a large homeowner's association. Chandler is a conservative community east of Phoenix, but a well-run progressive campaign can succeed there. Progressive Majority candidate Trinity Donovan was the top vote-getter in Chandler's elections two years ago, and as the lone progressive on the council, she now she needs help to move forward a progressive agenda. On the council, Rick will advocate smart and sustainable growth policies, expansion of mass transit, and a greater emphasis on parks and other city services that increase quality of life.
Robin Stamp
Candidate for Madison Elementary School Board - At Large (Open Seat)
Robin Stamp is a first-time candidate for the Madison Elementary School District Governing Board. Robin, 30, was a Fellow at the Center for Progressive Leadership and works for the Arizona Attorney General's office in its consumer outreach division.
Robin is dedicated to safer schools for our children. In his position as an Outreach Coordinator for the Attorney General, Robin has extensive experience working with students, teachers, administrators, and parents on school safety.
Robin understands the importance of a supportive work environment for Arizona's educators. One of Robin's primary goals is to attract and retain top teachers in Madison School District. Robin's vision is for the district to be the leader in 21st century education, and he believes we must educate our children to be leaders and innovators in the new global economy.
Liz Meza
Candidate for Phoenix Elementary School Board - At Large (Open Seat)
Liz Meza is a candidate in the non-partisan race for an open seat on the Phoenix Elementary School Board. Three seats are up, all elected at-large. Liz, the sister of Robert Meza, a progressive member of the Arizona House of Representatives, is a prominent member of the community making her first run for public office. She is running on a platform of improving conditions in Phoenix's inner city schools, effectively confronting the issues of reduced enrollment due to enhanced immigration enforcement and charter schools, and improving communication between school administration and the community. Liz's perspective as a member of the Latino community is desperately needed - this school district has an enrollment of 85% Latino students and 5% Caucasian students, yet all five board members are Caucasian.
Sherri Connell
Candidate for Tempe Elementary School Board - At Large (Challenger)
Sherri Connell, 36, is a first-time candidate running for a position on the Tempe Elementary School Board. A graduate of Emerge Arizona, Sherri is a young candidate with a bright political future. A mother of two, Sherri understands the issues facing the Tempe Elementary district from the perspective of a parent whose children attend the schools. She wants to improve communication between school administration and parents, reduce class sizes, and work to retain quality teachers. Sherri is a challenger running for one of three seats up for election in this non-partisan race.
Mark Stegeman
Candidate for Tucson Unified School Board - At Large (Open Seat)
Running as a challenger for the Tucson Unified School District, first-time candidate Mark Stegeman is an MIT-educated professor of economics at the University of Arizona. Mark is running for this non-partisan office because of his passion for education and because of the terrible mismanagement the district over the past several years. Tucson Unified is the largest school district in Arizona; it includes more than 150 schools and receives more dollars per student in funding than any other district in the state. Due to bloated bureaucracy, however, the district ranks near the bottom in the state in terms of dollars spent per student. Over the past few years, Mark has been serving on the district's budget advisory committee, and he wants to use his experience on the committee, as an economist, and as a small business owner to streamline the district's overhead to put more money in the classroom and increase teacher pay.
Kara Kelty
Candidate for Arizona Corporation Commission - At Large (Open Seat)
Kara Kelty is a sitting Flagstaff City Councilwoman running for the statewide office of Corporation Commissioner. Three seats on the Commission are up for election this November and all three are open seats. The Arizona Corporation Commission is perhaps the most powerful single elected body in the state - it has wide discretion on environmental and regulatory issues and is not subject to legislative oversight. In particular, the Commission can advance the cause of green energy by mandating the use of clean, alternative energy by Arizona's energy providers. Capitalizing on the statewide voter registration advantage, all five members of the Commission are Republicans, as has been the case for the last decade. However, one commissioner is a very moderate Republican, and the pickup of two Democratic seats would represent a significant power shift, particularly in the area of environmental reform. Kara is running on a platform of expanding the use of clean renewable resources in energy production, especially solar power, while keeping costs low for the customers of Arizona's utilities. Kara is a Clean Elections candidate.