Balanced Public Health Policy Should Be Legislature’s Goal (video)

The Arizona House Health Committee passed the Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act in January 2018.

This is the transcript of my opening remarks at the Arizona Public Health Association Conference on Oct. 3, 2018. A video of the speech is below.

It is an honor for me to address the Arizona Public Health Association, since I have a Masters in Public Health from the University of Arizona. I worked in health communication, medicine, public health and behavioral research for many years before deciding to run for the Arizona House in 2015.

In fact, it was my background in public health that prompted me to run for office. Many times since I moved to Arizona in 1981, I have found myself shouting at the radio or the TV or the newspaper or a social post about bad policy decisions made by the Arizona Legislature. Anybody else have that experience?

In the public health arena, the Legislature far too often makes short-term decisions to save a buck or make an ideological point, but in the long-term, these decisions cost money and lives. Do you remember Governor Jan Brewer’s Death Panels? Brewer knocked more than 250,000 adults off of Medicaid—including people on transplant waiting lists. That decision made national news as transplant patients began dying.

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Arizona Daily Star endorses Governor Doug Ducey, and former Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick for CD 2

In today’s Arizona Daily Star, the editorial board endorsed Republican Governor Doug Ducey (page A8) and online here: https://tucson.com/opinion/local/star-opinion-doug-ducey-for-arizona-governor/article_8556481d-b05b-538f-acb0-7ba9f40a1ec8.html The Star also on page A8 endorsed former 3 term CD 1 Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, a Democrat, for the open seat in CD 2: https://tucson.com/opinion/local/star-opinion-ann-kirkpatrick-in-congressional-district/article_179c6c59-5ff5-5399-879e-f22f559095a0.html Governor Ducey is facing a Democrat challenger ASU Professor Dr. David … Read more

New Data: David Garcia Closing the Gap in Race for Governor

The Center for Latina/os and American Politics Research released a poll showing the Garcia-Ducey race has dropped to a 4-point margin.
The Center for Latina/os and American Politics Research released a poll showing the Garcia-Ducey race has dropped to a 4-point margin.

Two new polls show that Democratic candidate David Garcia is closing the gap with Doug Ducey in the race for Governor. The gap will narrow more as Garcia’s campaign knocks on the doors of 1.3 million voters this weekend.

On top of that, One Arizona — a coalition of progressive community groups — worked together to register a record 190,000 new voters statewide.

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Sharon Girard

LD8 Democratic Legislative Candidates Support Education and Women’s Rights

Sharon Girard
Sharon Girard supports Medicare for All and retaining the KidsCare Healthcare program.

The Democratic candidates running for the state Legislature put an emphasis on issues that are unique to rural Arizona such as failing schools, lack of access to quality healthcare, water rights, and immigration.

In our Trump nation, local elections matter more than ever. If you care about education, healthcare or equality, it is vital that each of us knows exactly who is running for our local legislative seats.

Legislative District 8 encompasses Eloy, Globe, Gila River Indian Reservation, Mammoth, Coolidge, Florence, Superior, parts of Oracle, and Casa Grande.  

LD 8 can be considered a toss-up district. It is a District where the incumbent Republican state Senator Frank Pratt won less than 55 percent of the vote in 2016! Simply put: 55% is a percentage Democrats can chip away at. So, who are these Democrats on the ballot and what do they care about?

Arizona State Senate

Sharon Girard is running as a Democrat. She is a Physician’s Assistant and comes from a military family. Girard grew up in California but lives and works in Eloy, Arizona. She is a mother, wife and a fierce advocate for women’s reproductive rights and access to affordable healthcare for all. Her impressive medical background informs many of her positions. She is endorsed by Moms Demand Action, Naral Arizona, Teamsters Local 104, the Arizona AFL CIO, and various other organizations. Girard’s social media presence is strategic; she is active on both Facebook and Twitter.

Women’s equality and Reproductive freedom: Girard supports a woman’s right to choose, access to affordable contraception for men and women, equal pay, comprehensive sex education in all schools, and an end to Crisis Pregnancy Centers.

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Political Calendar: Week of October 14, 2018

The Political Calendar is posted on Sundays. Please send us notice of your political events prior to the Sunday before your event (7 days would be most helpful). See the calendar icon in the right-hand column of the blog page for easy access to the calendar.

Send notices of your events to blogforarizona@gmail.com.

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Early voting in the General Election is in Progress. No excuses – VOTE! Early Voting Sites in Pima County.

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Political Calendar for the Week of October 14, 2018:

Sunday, October 14,  Noon: All Candidate Meet & Greet, at Keiler Park, 500 N. Bisbee and W. Fremont Street, Willcox. Come meet your candidates and enjoy food and refreshments! Entertainment will be provided by Gary Melton and Kelly Rowden, The “Cadillac Cowboys.” Candidates already planning to attend include:

Jaime Alvarez (D) – candidate for Senate LD14
Gail Griffin – candidate for Representative LD 14
Amy Hunley – candidate for Clerk of the Superior Court, Cochise County
Bob Karp (D) – candidate for Representative LD 14
Joel Larson (D) –candidate for Superior Court Judge, Division 2, Cochise County
Becky Nutt – candidate for Representative LD 14
Shelley Renne-Leon (D) – candidate for Representative LD 14
Grace Wiggins – candidate for Clerk of the Superior Court, Cochise County

Monday, October 15, Noon: Democrats of Greater Tucson luncheon, Dragon’s View Restaurant (400 N. Bonita, South of St. Mary’s Road between the Freeway and Grande Avenue, turn South at Furr’s Cafeteria). New price: buffet lunch is $10.00 cash, $12 credit; just a drink is $3.50. Featured speaker is Kalie Pawlik on “Yes on Prop 127.” Next Week: Sam Almy, AZ Democratic Party Data Director.

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