Good Morning Everyone!
What a day, what a week, what a year!
I want to begin by thanking everyone for your support to the campaign and in the Primary race, whether you have canvassed, phone banked, texted, or donated!
Now, starting today, it's time to really roll up our sleeves and get to work. I'm going to need your support going forward; now, more than ever! We cannot take anything for granted and we cannot rest on our laurels. The saying goes "run every race as though you're 10 points behind," and with your help, we can do this!
While I was deeply saddened by President Biden's decision to withdraw from the Presidential race, there's a feeling of excitement and change in the air that many of us haven't felt in a while!
Knocking on doors, there's been such excitement about the new Harris campaign and her VP pick of Tim Walz, the Governor of Minnesota. He is a rural committee member, Army National Guard veteran, football coach, geography teacher, church-goer, butter carver, car fixer, animal lover, and coiner of "weird Republicans".
He strongly embraces our democratic values: From providing free meals for school kids to implementing paid family leave in Minnesota, he's about doing good in all the ways you can! My niece at ASU says Tim Walz is BRAT. (If you don't know what that means, trust me: it's a good thing).
Our district is ready for the call to action to get Democrats elected up and down the ballot.
Here's the icing on the cake: If (when) the Harris/Walz campaign wins, it will put Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan in the Governor's seat, making her the FIRST Native American Governor in U.S. History!
This last two weeks, the Harris campaign has raised over $400 million dollars, signed up 190,000 new volunteers, and scheduled more than 2,300 events in battleground states (which includes Arizona, where LD12's own Denise and Marty Skalon are building quite a reputation as THE go-to political event hotspot of the East Valley)!
This year, I had three* bills signed by Governor Hobbs, making a total of 4 this term – setting a record for a 1st term legislator in the minority party!
Here's a quick recap:
HB2670 (2023) allows Nat'l Guard and Reservists to be buried in State VA Cemeteries.
HB2716 (2024) expands the AZ Criminal Justice Commission to now include a Victim Rights Advocate and a Public Defender.
HB2304 (2024) creates a memorial honoring the Buffalo Soldiers by creating the Buffalo Soldiers AZ Territory Monument in Wesley Bolin Plaza.
*And...at the last minute of the session (with lots of drama), I led a bipartisan effort in both chambers (SJR1001) (2024), which Sen. Sonny Borelli kindly ran on my behalf. SJR1001 (2024) authorizes the purchase of private land by the Veterans Administration for the establishment of a Fisher House (like a Ronald McDonald house, but for veterans).
Also this session, I co-sponsored HB2877 (as well as a whole host of other bills), which repealed Arizona's territorial abortion ban!
Even small bills take a lot of work just to get through, and while they might not change the world, these bills matter dearly to the community on whose behalf I brought these forward for, and any bill that passes requires bipartisan support.
To give you all an idea: During this session, 911 bills were introduced in the House. 352 were by Democrats. Only 7 in the House got through; two were mine, not including SJR1001 (which technically had Borelli's name on it, as they were not going to run my bill at the last minute with a Democrat's name on it.) And that's ok! What was more important was getting this crucial piece of legislation passed, I didn't care whose name was on it! WE GOT IT DONE!!!
Water Policy was a bit trickier, as you can imagine. As a member of the Governor's Water Policy Council, we are fighting hard to negotiate sensible (rural) groundwater policy and are currently negotiating with stakeholders a path forward, despite Republican opposition. Issues with metering, grandfathered water rights, and maintaining current basin levels while making sure rural Arizonans can continue their legacy for years to come are some of our main priorities. We will continue working on this next term.
Additionally, I was incredibly honored to receive the Unified Arizona Veterans Copper Shield Award, which is given to only one legislator each year for their legislative advocacy on behalf of the military and veteran community.
And, I've had the privilege of speaking around our District and County representing LD12:
I held a Climate Town Hall (huge thanks to the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans, who include LD12's own Janie Hydrick, Ellen Shamah, and a host of other fantastic LD12 residents).
I was asked to speak about the importance of saving our democracy along with January 6 Capitol police officers Harry Dunn and Sgt. Aquilino Gonell.
I had a chance to speak to the Chandler Elks Lodge, and I got to meet the fantastic guard team from the Basha High School JROTC.
Finally, I was lucky enough to represent LD12 and talked Maryland Blue Crabs with Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi at the AZDEMS Hall of Fame Awards.
And that was just a sample of the goings on representing LD12––we can do this! In AZ, we need to win by 2 seats in both chambers (I'm not saying 1, because 1 means power sharing and that will be a mess to negotiate). So please keep up your support for all of us up and down the ballot. Change is coming and only WE can make it happen.
Thank you your continued support, as always I am humbled by the volunteers, advocates and our supporters as we work to save our democracy for us and for all those generations that will come after us...
Stacey
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Doing the right thing.
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Unified Arizona Veterans Copper Shield Award
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AZDEMS Hall of Fame Awards, with Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi
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Meeting the Basha High School JROTC at the Chandler Elks Lodge
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With January 6 Capitol Police Officers Harry Dunn and Sgt. Aquilino Gonell
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Climate Town Hall with Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
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HB 2716 (2024) expands the AZ Criminal Justice Commission to now include a Victim Rights Advocate and a Public Defender
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Keep your eye out for future planned events!
Our favorite kinda people are Volunteers!
If you want to get involved drop us a line.
Help us Get Out the Vote and advocate for Democrats up and down the ballot by knocking on doors with us!
Canvass launches are held every Saturday and Sunday at 9am in Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Chandler.
Contact us if you want to go out for a nice walk with me.
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Who Wants One of the Prettiest Yard Signs North of the Collapsed Border Wall Shipping Containers?
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If you'd like to show your support for Stacey and put one in your yard or window, please fill out this form and one will magically appear on your doorstep!
We also have some Yard Sign Depots. Please email [email protected] for a location closest to you.
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