Age: 28
Party: Democratic
Occupation: ASU faculty associate/State Representative
Why are you running for office/re-election?
I am running this year for the same reason I first ran for office. I feel that drastic changes need to be made to our education system in this state. It isn’t broken … it’s doing exactly what it was designed to do. Unfortunately, it was designed for a different era and a different population of students. We need leaders in our state that have new and good ideas to revamp our K-12 and higher education systems.
What experience qualifies you for the position?
Having been both a high school teacher and a college lecturer prepares me to work on education issues across the spectrum at the Legislature, which is the issue most important to me. My service at the Legislature over the last two years also prepares me for the tough times our state is going through. I will use my experience on the Appropriations and Education committee to ensure that we make the best financial decisions for our state in the coming years.
What do you think is the most important issue of the election?
The most important issue this year is most certainly the economy. I believe that too few of our leaders realize the long-term impact of the decisions that are made on financial issues. It is our generation, young adults, that will pay the price in the decades to come for the fiscal sins of those in power today.
If elected, what would you want your relationship with ASU to be?
I will continue to work with ASU to keep tuition low and to continue to improve the quality of higher education in our state. I probably spend more time on campus than I do at the Capitol, which will help me to continue to foster relationships with students, faculty and administrators of our University.
Why should ASU students want to elect you?
My seatmate Ed Ableser and I have two of the best friends of ASU at the Legislature. We have been advocates for increased funding from the state and have fought alongside many of ASU’s students to keep tuition low.
What is the No. 1 change you want to see in your district?
Since ASU is at the heart of my district, I think the most significant and important change we could see in my district in the coming years would be further investment in the quality of education at our institution. As the economy improves, we must reinvest the state funding that has been stripped this year, as well as make further investments in quality faculty, smaller class sizes and more diverse course offerings at ASU.
What would your contributions to the community be?
I will continue to do all I can to make my community a better place by educating tomorrow’s leaders, giving of my time to important community projects and events and serving my constituents well at the Legislature.
