JD Mesnard may not be a fringe zealot like other Republicans running for office in Arizona this election cycle but his challenger Cindy Hans will actually commit to serving all the people in the new Legislative District (LD) 13.
JD Mesnard may not be a fully dangerous fringe Trump salivating extremist like other members of the Arizona State Legislature like Wendy Rogers, Kelly Townsend, Mark Finchem, or John Filmore.
However, that does not mean he wants to spend his time fully serving and helping middle and working-class citizens including the very impoverished.
Voters need to remember this is the legislator that has championed measures just this year that have:
- Took away women’s right to choose.
- Made members of the LGBTQ community second-class citizens.
- Suppressed access to the ballot box.
- Called for the banning of books in public schools.
- Allowed the wealthiest among Arizonans to apply for private school voucher scholarships that could go to schools that are religious or promote extremist racist dogma.
In this election year, voters have a chance to choose a candidate that will fully devote herself to serving and helping the people in the new Legislative District (LD) 13, an area that includes all or part of Chandler, Gilbert, and Sun Lakes.
Her name is Cindy Hans.
She is a former educator (instructor and principal) and activist who has dedicated her life to public service.
In contrast to Mr. Mesnard, Ms. Hans will:
- Support a woman’s right to choose.
- Promote equality for everyone, including members of the LGBTQ Community.
- Fully fund public education and support all educators, including teachers and school librarians.
- Protect a person’s access to the voting booth.
She will also work to help solve the state’s water crisis and common-sense gun reform, especially where children are concerned.
Ms. Hans graciously took the time to answer questions about her candidacy for the State Senate.
The questions and her responses are below.
- Please tell the voters, at least three reasons why they should vote for you over Mr. Mesnard.
“For 30 years, I have had boots on the ground in education as a volunteer and as an employee. I’ve been a teacher and a principal. I’ve worked with grants, so I know how hard it is to get our education funding up to what it needs to be. I’ve also volunteered with Save our Schools, and Invest in Ed and I think he isn’t quite as interested in education funding the way I am. I see education funding as a foundation to create an economic workforce. That’s how we’re going to grow the economy: by graduating students who are ready for the next step from high school, whether that’s an entry-level position, a trade school, community college, or university. That’s an economic powerhouse for Arizona.
For the second issue, I believe that the legislative body does not have any place in my doctor’s office. So, when JD Mesnard sponsored, prior to the Dobbs decision, a 15-week abortion ban, it was without regard to a woman’s autonomy over her own self. Pregnant people need to have all the options open to them. It is not up to a politician to define what those options are or limit those choices.
The third reason is access to the ballot. I have been a poll worker since 2017 and I believe that the elections in Maricopa County are very secure. The process has been tested and proven multiple times. I want to keep the voting security that we already have, and the accessibility we already have. I don’t want to go back to precinct voting. We have the technology now that makes that irrelevant. I don’t want to go back to single-day voting. I don’t think it is necessary to have your signature notarized before you drop it off at the ballot box. We have signature specialists in Maricopa County who can determine if your signature is valid. So, I want to keep those secure voting processes and if there are changes to voting, I want it to come from election officials who understand the system, not from politicians.”
- Please advise in your opinion, what are the three main issues in the legislative race in the new LD 13.
“I think the most important issue like it has been for years, is education funding. I think the legislative budget recently was an excellent one. So, we are no longer 49th in the country in funding. We are now 45th. That is not acceptable to me for Arizona citizens. It certainly isn’t acceptable for my Chandler community. So, that is still the big one.
The second issue is privacy in healthcare. The government needs to get out of my doctor’s office. They need to get out of your doctor’s office. We have enough people in there. We have the medical community. Sometimes, we have insurance companies. That’s enough.
The third important issue I believe is fair elections. I think we’ve got a very secure system. Arizona certainly had its share of attention in 2020. We still have people who don’t think the 2020 election was fair in Arizona. I honestly cannot say enough about the integrity of election workers, the ones that are there full time, the ones that they hire during election season. I would like legislators to go through some of that training so that they understand how to secure these positions and how secure the election process is.
Most Arizonans are very concerned about water. I’m concerned about how we are going to solve that. It is not going to be just Arizona because we have to take into consideration other states as part of that solution. We’ve got groundwater control that is limited. We need to include more areas of Arizona in that protection. I want to hear from climate scientists. I want to hear from water specialists. I want to hear from the hydrologists. I want to hear from the geologist. That’s where those solutions are going to come from. Of course, that’s so crucial to the future of Arizona because if we must have water. I think the solutions are out there.”
Any comment on rising prices like gas and food?
“The problem with inflation is not one that the Arizona State Legislature can necessarily fix. I think it’s a global and multifaceted issue that includes supply chains and the war in Ukraine. I don’t think it’s an accident that prices for gas went up almost immediately after Russia invaded Ukraine. I do think the federal government has done a few things to help alleviate some of the inflation but every country in the world has been suffering from this. We all went through the pandemic and now there’s been a huge demand and the supply has not kept up with demand because of COVID. You know, the factories were shut down or they were paired back. So, all of that contributes to inflation. It is just an economic fact, and there is not a single solution.”
- Please describe your campaign strategy to reach voters in the new LD 13, including independents and disaffected Republicans.
“There is going to be a multi-prong approach. The main thing I do is I get out and knock on doors. I knocked on over 2000 doors during the primary. So, I’m knocking on your door, asking you, how can I represent you? I’m reaching out that way. I personally reach out to 200 or 300 doors a week. The campaign team as a group hits about 2000 doors a week. If we are at your door and you don’t answer, we’re going to leave a card on that door.
There are going to be some mail campaigns because my name isn’t known, I know that JD Mesnard’s name is very well known. He’s been in the legislature for his entire adult life so he has name recognition. But I am going to get the same recognition because I’m out talking to people. I’m open to reaching out. If you want to have a house party, let me know and I will show up for you, your friend, and your 20 best friends. I’m open to that.”
- Is there anything not covered in the first three questions that you would like the readers to know about you and your candidacy? Please explain.
“I think I can bring a lot of energy to this position. I think I can bring a lot of skills in listening to people to find out why they’re happy, why they’re disaffected and what can we do about it? Certainly, the Arizona Legislature can’t solve all problems but I certainly think I have the energy and the intelligence to search through those issues that are important to people. If I cannot find a solution, at least give people a voice. I do believe that people need a voice and I will give people that.”
Please click on the below social media site to find out more about Cindy Hans and her candidacy for the Arizona State Senate in the new LD 13.
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What does it say about Arizona that in most other states* (NOT TX or FL) he would be considered to be a “fringe zealot” Here? He’s considered to be a moderate by his caucus’ standards.