Author: Steve Ware

Heather Lappin, Candidate for Pima County Sheriff
John Backer, Candidate for Pima County Board of Supervisors
And, a presentation on Ranked Choice Voting!

Friday, March 15, 9AM (8:30 coffee)
Ocotillo/Mesquite rooms, Kino Conference Center

An exciting, rare opportunity to hear firsthand national and state news from our legislators – US Congressman Juan Ciscomani, AZ Congressional District 6, and District 19 State Representative Gail Griffin!  LIMITED SEATING!

Congressman Juan Ciscomani represents Arizona’s 6th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives and is running for reelection.Juan and his family immigrated to the United States when he was a young boy. They established roots in Tucson, Arizona, where his father worked as a bus driver to give his children a shot at the American Dream. Growing up in a working-class family taught Juan the value of hard work and the importance of a can-do attitude.  Juan attended public schools in Tucson, Pima Community College and the University of Arizona. He worked his way through school with maintenance and service jobs until becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. After college, Juan worked for the University of Arizona and the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce before joining Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s administration as Senior Advisor and Vice-Chair of the Arizona-Mexico Commission Juan focused on the issues of international trade and diplomacy, border security, and economic development. In 2022, Juan was elected to represent Arizona’s new 6th congressional district, becoming the first naturalized American citizen from Mexico elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona history. Juan often shares a conversation with his dad where his dad asked him:

“Where else could we have our story? We come to the US, learn English, immerse in the culture, become US citizens, I drive a bus most of my life, and now my son is a United States Congressman. Where else in the world? Nowhere else, that’s the American Dream.” 
 Juan is determined to fight to keep that dream alive for others.  Juan resides in Tucson with his wife, Laura, and their 6 kids — Zoe, Juan David, Kenny, Lily, Lucas, and Gloria.  State Representative Gail Griffin represents Legislative District 19 in the Arizona House of Representatives. District 19 includes portions of 5 counties: Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, and Santa Cruz.Gail Griffin is currently serving as a member of the House of Representatives and serves as the Chairman of the Natural Resources, Energy, and Water Committee, and the Vice Chairman of the Rules Committee. She is also a member of the Land, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Committee and the Governor’s Water Council.She serves as Co-Chairman on the Ad Hoc Study Committees on Water Security, and Air Quality and Energy. She has also served on the Water Banking Authority, the Water Protection Fund, and many other committees of interest.Gail Griffin served in the Arizona State Senate and has been involved in issues at the local, state, and federal level for many years. She believes in a smaller, smarter government, less taxes, personal responsibility, protection of property rights, and in the free enterprise system. Representative Griffin will continue to fight to get education dollars into the classroom for students and teachers, for Veteran’s issues, for transparency in government, and will continue to challenge federal overreach, and support States Rights and our Constitution.Gail has received many awards for her service which includes “Senator of the Year” from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), “Legislator of the Year” from Arizona Rural Health Association and from the Arizona Mining Association.Gail holds memberships in many state and local organizations.She is a Real Estate Broker at Sierra Vista Realty and lives in Cochise County. 

Friday, February 16, 9AM (8:30 coffee)
Ocotillo/Mesquite rooms, Kino Conference Center

“Three Women in Politics!” – Learn about the latest from the Town of Sahuarita (Vulcan, Trader Joes?), the Arizona Corporation Commission, and all about elections (2020 election experience) at our February Meeting with:
 

l to r:  Diana Priolo, Lea Marquez Peterson, Kathy Bernier
Guest Speakers:

Diane Priolo, Town of Sahuarita Town Council Member  
Lea Marquez Peterson, Arizona Corporation Commissioner
Kathy Bernier, Wisconsin State Director of Keep Our Republic

Diane Priolo, Town of Sahuarita Town Council Member,  is seeking re-election to a four-year term.  Diane will be able to address questions concerning issues such as the Vulcan Asphalt Plant, the lights at Old Nogales Road and Quail Creek Boulevard and other inquiries such as will there be a Trader Joe’s in the area, Total Wine?

Diane was born in Brooklyn, New York and is the proud mother of accomplished twin daughters who are veterans of the Global War on Terror and reserve officers in the US Air Force.

Diane retired as a clinical social worker with legal and medical/surgical/burn experience including expert witness testimony in all forms of child abuse.  Her background includes being elected as a Precinct Committeeman and a GOP State Representative. 

She is currently serving a two-year term on the Sahuarita Town Council.

Lea Marquez Peterson is seeking re-election to the Arizona Corporation Commission.  She was appointed in May 2019 and elected statewide during the 2020 election cycle. She is the first Latina to serve in a statewide role in Arizona. She has spent her time on the Commission holding utilities accountable to Arizonans and fighting for affordable, reliable energy.
 
As the only Commissioner based outside of Maricopa County, Lea has worked diligently for the entire State to provide financial relief for customers and to ensure energy reliability. Her outreach to stakeholders across the state has been invaluable to ensuring that the voices of ratepayers are heard, and Arizona’s utilities are affordable, reliable and safe.
 
In addition, her decades of small business experience and service as the President of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber, one of the largest Chambers in the state, has been helpful in streamlining the business incorporation process and prioritizing the economic recovery of the state. 

Lea served as the Chairwoman of the Commission from 2020 to 2022 and is running to retain her seat to serve families in every County and to ensure Arizona families economic prosperity. Since her appointment, she has led initiatives to rebate $40 million dollars to customers of APS and TEP during the pandemic, and hosted meetings of the Commission to discuss the California rolling blackouts and its impact on Arizona’s energy and utility prices.  
 
Lea resides in Tucson with her husband and two children. Learn more about Lea and support her re-election campaign at www.VoteforLea.com. 

Kathy Bernier will be talking about her experience as a past election official and legislator in the 2020 election, investigations and some things that were asked of her.
 
She is a lifelong resident of Chippewa County Wisconsin.  The mother of 3 and grandmother of 6, she considers them her most valuable accomplishment.
 
Kathy is a graduate from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire.  She ran for County Clerk as a Republican in November of 1998 and took office in January 1999.  Among other accomplishments, she spent 12 years administering elections.  She ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2010, then Senate in 2018 where she served for four years.  For all of the 12 years in office, she chaired the Elections Committees.
 
Kathy retired from the legislature in January 2023 and was offered a position for a non-profit called Keep Our Republic in April, 2023.  She is the Wisconsin State Director.  Her mission is to educate the public on election administration in conjunction with county and municipal clerks.  Her moto is, “Do the right thing, because it is the right thing to do.”