Suzanne Story wants to bring “Responsible Stewardship” to Maricopa County

If you live in District Four of Maricopa County (west of 43^rd Avenue,) Suzanne Story needs your help on August 4, 2020.

Ms. Story is running to become the next County Board Supervisor from that district in the November elections but she needs the residents of that area to write in her name on the August 4, 2020, Primary election ballots so she can compete in the fall.

A high school English instructor in the Peoria School District with twenty years of experience, she is running:

“…because it is probably the most important elected office that no one has heard of. The board of supervisors governs over all 60 county departments, some of which are elections, public health, animal welfare, jails, and air quality. The five people on the board set policy and budgets for Maricopa County.”

 Seeing the current crop of County Supervisors (including District Four incumbent Clint Hickman) obstruct greater voter access to mail-in balloting, “sit” on $170 million of COVID relief aid, and “do nothing” with regards to environmental pollution (which would apparently affect Mr. Hickman’s bottom line,) Ms. Story would like to bring “responsible stewardship” to Maricopa County.

Ms. Story graciously took the time to discuss her write-in candidacy for District Four on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

The questions and her responses are below.

• Please tell the readers three ways the Maricopa County of Supervisors affects their lives?
• “They oversee elections. The reason we do not have mail-in ballots sent to every voter is because of the Supervisors voting no. I want more transparency and accountability.”

• “To improve air quality and reduce pollution. I would support anti-pollution policies and more green energy projects if elected to the board.” 

• “Public Health. The County plays a large role there. There is a significant portion of the CARES Act funding the board is sitting on that could go towards this area.”

• Please tell the readers how your education and experience has prepared you to serve on the board.

 “It has taught me to be very focused on the community and the members in it. My entire 20-year career (a high school English teacher) has been in District Four. I am familiar firsthand with the real impact of budgetary decisions and that will be invaluable. I am also familiar with transparency and accountability as a teacher and that makes people better prepared. I will take those skills to the Board and work for the public trust.”

• Please describe how you would support:

1. Animal wellness, adoption, and protection:

“Society is judged by how we treat our most vulnerable: that includes animals in shelters. The county needs to do a better job at reducing the costs of spraying and neutering. There should be more satellite locations for people to visit. We have to humanely reduce the number of unwanted pets and sponsor adoptions.”

2. Public safety from disease:

“All county policies should be dictated by the best scientific evidence we have at the time. Politicians should just stay out of it. The Board members need to put partisan interests aside and listen to the experts. As a board member, I would put partisan interests aside.”

3. Ensuring immunizations are given to low income and homeless citizens:

 “It requires a board that has the will to proceed with those policies that protect the most vulnerable. I am in favor of mobile health clinics that travel to ensure the people are taken care of with vaccinations and other health services.”

4. County Libraries:

“Libraries are one of the ways the government directly serves the citizens. In addition to many other things, the hours need to be restored to Pre COVID levels so kids can have access to technology and reading materials. Libraries are more important than ever.”

5. Veterans Services:

“The Board has a direct responsibility to provide better care for our soldiers.”

6. Safeguarding waste, recycling, and sanitation:

“We need to improve recycling compliance and participation.”

7. Infrastructure:

“Transit is done city by city. There should be a countywide green mass transit plan to make better use of our resources and reduce traffic. This will help the environment and reduce pollution.”

8. Community Colleges:

“I support making community college tuition-free for high school students that meet the qualifying criteria.”

• Please tell the reader anything you would like them to know not covered in the previous questions.

“Two of the biggest changes I would like to make to the County Board of Supervisors is to have more meetings open to the public and adopting rules for people who have conflicts of interest.”

“This will be my full-time job if I am elected. I will be dedicated to serving the citizens of the county.”

For more information on Ms. Story and her candidacy, please click on her website here, her interview with Maricopa County School Superintendent Candidate Jeanne Casteen here, and her Facebook Page here.

 Please remember:

• Primary Election Day is on August 4, 2020, and General Election Day is on November 3. 2020. Please see the below graphic for all-important voting dates. 
• Please check your voter registration at vote.
• Register/sign up for the Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL) in Arizona or any state that allows early or absentee balloting and mail. Arizona residents can sign up at vote. 
• Arizona residents, mail your General Election ballot by October 28, 2020, for the November 3, 2020 election.
• Check-in with the Secretary of State’s office where you live to verify your mail-in ballot was received, processed, verified, and counted.
• Know the voter ID requirements in your state.
• If you can, support Clean Election Candidates with a small contribution.
• Also, please remember to stay informed on all the candidates and vote for all the offices on the ballot.
• Also, remember to research all the ballot initiatives, sign to get them on the ballot if you support the measure, and vote on them as well.