Arizona

Henry Wade Jr. is running for Pinal County Supervisor in District 4. Henry is Vice-Chair of the City of Maricopa Planning and Zoning Commission serving his 4th year on the commission. He is the Founder and Past-President of the Arizona Association of Real Estate Brokers (AAREB) and was recently named as the Single Family Residential Property Manager for Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC). After supporting candidates from behind the scenes for years, Henry felt that this was an opportunity to run and lead from office.

Karyn Lathan is an openly GLBT candidate running for State Representative in District 17. She has spent over 25 years in law enforcement and corrections as a Police Officer, Correctional Officer, Probation and Parole Officer and ended her career in law enforcement as the Restorative Justice Coordinator for Arizona Department of Corrections. She is an Air Force veteran where she served in South Korea as well as stateside. She has spent the last 5 years working and volunteering with victim services organizations. She is the Chairman of the Chandler Domestic Violence Commission, Board member for the Arizona Sexual Assault Network, Program Coordinator for the Phoenix Anti-Violence Program and member of the Arizona Coalition of Victim Services.

Mark Stonebraker is running for State Representative in District 14. Mark has extensive experience working in computer information systems having worked at the National Bureau of Standards, IBM, Northrop Gumman and others. He also manages a real estate rental business in Cochise County. His parents instilled a strong belief in civil rights and community service and Mark stays true to this through his work in the community. He served 2 years as the volunteer director of Nueva Luz day program for mental healthcare consumers and the homeless and volunteered for many years with the Ecumenical Institute where he organized and raised funds for town meetings throughout California, Oregon and Washington.

Jackie Thrasher is running for State Representative in District 20. Jackie is a former State Representative and retired Music Educator from the Washington Elementary School District. As a state legislator, Jackie supported better pay for teachers and co-sponsored the Teen Driver Safety Act, which decreased accident rates among teenage drivers. She also fought for tougher penalties for repeat DUI offenders and protected workers by creating a safer environment at the State Hospital. She’s running for office because she knows how the cuts to education in Arizona are harming children and schools.

Victoria Steele is a counselor, educator, successful business owner, and former television and radio broadcaster. As a licensed counselor, Victoria helps individuals deal with relationship problems and emotional issues. Of Native American and German descent, Victoria developed Native Ways, a treatment program for Native American women struggling with substance abuse issues. In addition to her counseling practice, Victoria is a faculty member at Prescott College and the University of Phoenix. She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in Counseling, Psychology, Environmental Psychology, and Cultural Diversity.

Charlene Fernandez is running for State Representative, District 4. Charlene worked as a Congressional Assistant for two Members of the United States Congress where she has witnessed the inner-workings of many federal agencies and community organizations. In addition, Charlene was as a member of Former Governor Janet Napolitano’s Executive Team in the role of Community Liaison to Yuma and La Paz Counties for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Agency. Charlene served on the Yuma Union High School District Governing Board for eight years.

Matthew Cerra is running for State Representative, District 16. Matthew is a life long Arizonan, born in Casa Grande. Matthew earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Michigan State University and has dual Master’s degrees in Education and Training from University of Phoenix. He works for a software company providing technology solutions to small businesses.

At age seventeen, Stefanie Mach was faced with a traumatic car accident that left her with many injuries. After the events of September 11th, she dedicated a year of service to our country with AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps). In that year, Stefanie responded to a flood disaster with the American Red Cross, taught elementary school children, built part of the Appalachian Trail, maintained a wildlife reserve, and helped construct five houses with Habitat for Humanity. She now runs a small business helping build and sustain non-profit organizations.

Jonathan Rothschild’s experience in both the private sector, as a managing partner in a law firm, and in the public sector, with his extensive service with non-profits, gives him the skills needed to be an effective Mayor of Tucson.  He is a member of the Tucson Parks & Recreation Commission and has served as Board President of Casa de los Ninos and on the Board of the Tucson Medical Center. Jonathan is the strongest candidate in this race.

Todd Schwarz is an SEIU member and candidate for the Governing Board of the Balsz Elementary District 31. Located in Maricopa County (Phoenix), Balsz School District is one of the most important school districts in Arizona. For the past two years, Todd has been a leader in the Arizona Budget Coalition, a group of labor, education, and environmental leaders committed to rejecting the GOPs slash and burn budget policies and, instead, offering concrete fixes to the budget crisis. This is Todd's first run for elective office.

David Longoria was appointed to the Pima Community College Governing Board District 2 last February and he is now running for election to that seat. David is an SEIU member and has been a coordinator of the Neighborhood Reinvestment Program in the Pima County Community Development and Neighborhood Conservation Department. He presently serves as the Vice Chair for the Pima County Regional Transportation Authority's Citizens Accountability for Regional Transportation Committee.