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.”