About Christine

I am proud of my 32 years in the classroom. As an English teacher, I viewed my classroom as a place to provide skills and knowledge to my students that would equip them to make the world a better place .

In 2016, I was incredibly honored to be named Arizona's Teacher of the Year . Through that experience, I had the opportunity to travel across the state and see first-hand the issues that public schools are facing on a daily basis.

Now, I carry those lessons with me as I run for re-election to the State Senate. In the Legislature, I've gotten straight to work on solving the problems which impact everyday Arizonans .

-Christine

Meet Christine

My goal as a young mother was to raise kids who could make the world a better place. Today, I can honestly say that looking back, I am most proud of raising two socially responsible, noble, and honest sons. I had the same goal as a foster mother to six children, who had come from tough backgrounds and needed love and care.

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Beyond parenting, I am also proud of my 32 years in the classroom. As an English teacher, I viewed my classroom as a place to provide skills and knowledge to my students that would equip them to make the world a better place. I wanted to give them the tools needed to become contributing, engaged members of the workforce and of their communities. I always tried to challenge them to reach beyond their own comfort zones.

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In 2016, after nearly three decades in the classroom, I was incredibly honored to be named Arizona's Teacher of the Year. Through that experience, I had the opportunity to travel across the state to see first-hand the issues that public schools were–and are–facing on a daily basis. I carry those lessons with me now as I run to return to the State Senate representing Legislative District 5.

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When I served in the Senate earlier, from 2017-2024, I worked to solve the problems which impact everyday Arizonans. I shepherded lifesaving harm reduction legislation through the state legislature to legalize testing strips for fentanyl. I also led the fight against what would have been incredibly dangerous cuts to our public schools and to our public transportation system.

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I've had experience, too, in the ways of running small businesses. When I was just six or seven, I started helping in my father's catering business, doing little jobs, like wrapping silverware in napkins. By the time I was 16, I was working 20 to 30 hours a week, preparing and delivering food. We used to cater for a meals-on-wheels type of non-profit that delivered food to retirement homes, and I ran the routes.

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My mom also owned her own small business, as did my grandparents and great-grandparents on both my mother's side and father's side of the family. I learned at an early age the value of hard-work, initiative, and honesty . My father ran one of the first kosher catering companies in Phoenix, and I remember how important it was to my father, and to all of us, to respect the rules required to keep the food kosher.

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I'm also a writer, runner, active member of my church family, education activist, and friend. Each of those roles is important to me. In all parts of my life, I always try to contribute as much as I am blessed to gain .

-Christine

Why I'm Running

A few years ago, a student asked me if Arizona kids were worth less than kids in other states.

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I was shocked by his question, and responded: "Of course not!"

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Continuing, he asked, "Well, why are Arizona's students funded so far below the national average in per-student funding? It sure seems like Arizona values its students less than other states do."

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That's when I realized that we—as a state—are failing our children. I didn't know then that I'd run for office, but I knew I needed to do more than just focus on helping my own students in the classroom—I needed to try to help all Arizona students get the resources they need to succeed in their classroom. I needed to get off the sidelines and into the game to make things better for Arizona's kids.

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In 2016, after I was named Arizona's Teacher of the Year, I had the opportunity to travel the state and advocate for students and teachers from Sierra Vista to Flagstaff. During that time, I saw firsthand the importance of a highly educated workforce to the future economy of our state. I realized then, that our current state leadership has irresponsibly pursued short-term gains at the expense of funding our children.

Yes, we have amazing teachers doing incredible work with students in classrooms all across the state, but we are not supporting our schools in a sustainable way. We are not truly investing in our state's future.

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I know we can do better.

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Over my 32 years of teaching, I've taught more than 3500 students. In that time, I've learned how to solve problems and how to reach people who sometimes don't want to be reached.

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I've learned that the classroom should be a marketplace for ideas, where every student has the opportunity to learn, to speak, and to grow.

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Yet, that isn't what I've seen at the State Capitol. Our current Republican legislators have allowed partisanship to guide their votes, rather than doing what is right for our state. I've watched as politicians say they are working to "get things done," while undermining our voting rights, underfunding our public schools, passing a universal voucher bill, and reintroducing junk insurance plans as needed choice in healthcare in Arizona.

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I'm done watching, and I'm running for the State Senate.

-Christine

Mis Valores

Mantener balance en la legislatura de Arizona

Actualmente, Arizona tiene una mayoríía Republicana en ambas cámaras de la Legislatura estatal y un gobernador Republicano. Necesitamos más equilibrio en el Capitolio para forzar la negociación y el compromiso. Bajo el liderazgo Republicano, las poblaciones que ya enfrentan discriminación, incluidas las personas de color, las mujeres, la comunidad LGBT y las personas con discapacidades, se ecuentran en una posición muy frágil. Mi elección al Senado estatal podría significar un cambio de liderazgo y eso significaría el fin de gobernación por solo un partido en Arizona. Todas las buenas ideas tendrán una audiencia justa. Habrá tiempo para el testimonio público sobre una variedad de proyectos de ley. No habrá más sesiones nocturnas para producir un presupuesto. Crearemos un mercado de ideas que fomente soluciones innovadoras a los problemas que enfrentamos.

Mejorando la educación y la economía

Nuestro sistema educativo es la base del futuro de nuestro estado, y ahora mismo les estamos fallando a nuestros hijos y a nuestro futuro. Creo que debemos reestructurar la forma en que financiamos nuestro sistema de educación pública. Necesitamos invertir en nuestros maestros, exigir clases más pequeñas y priorizar las escuelas públicas del vecindario. Una fuerza laboral local altamente educada y capacitada, y una infraestructura sólida, motivará a las empresas a mudarse a Arizona. Necesitamos crear una economía sostenible y diversa que tenga la capacidad de competir globalmente por nuevos empleos con salarios altos.

Vengo de generaciones de propietarios de pequeñas empresas. Estoy orgullosa de los negocios en crecimiento de Arizona, pero estoy en contra de regalar beneficios sociales a corporaciones. Los Republicanos de Arizona creen que el estado tiene éxito económicamente cuando las corporaciones se benefician de enormes ventajas fiscales. Esta política económica fallida tiene muchos nombres, pero ha tenido un resultado: un presupuesto cada vez menor, y eso nos lleva a servicios públicos con fondos insuficientes.

En la pasada sesión legislativa, los Republicanos de Arizona otorgaron a las corporaciones aún más exenciones fiscales, incluso una para comprar aviones corporativos. Sé de primera mano que beneficios corporativos resultan en una infraestructura mal mantenida y a una financiación inadecuada para nuestras escuelas públicas. Todos ganan cuando las corporaciones pagan lo que les corresponde.

Garantizar el acceso a una atención médica asequible y de calidad

Todos los arizonenses merecen acceso a la atención médica asequible y de calidad. Como maestra, sé que existe una correlación directa entre los niños sanos y el aprendizaje. Apoyo la disponibilidad continua de Medicaid y KidsCare para todos los que son elegibles. Sé que necesitamos reformas significativas para que la atención médica sea más asequible, incluso la oportunidad de comprar un seguro médico a través de nuestro programa estatal actual de Medicaid.

Es absolutamente fundamental que toda reforma proteja a las personas con afecciones preexistentes. Además, las mujeres de Arizona deben tener acceso a la atención médica reproductiva legal y segura en nuestro estado, y deben tener la capacidad de tomar sus propias decisiones con respecto a su atención médica.

Arizona se enfrenta a una escasez de médicos y voy a abogar por nuevas pólizas y programas ampliados que ayudarán a retener a los profesionales médicos graduados en nuestro estado y a fortalecer nuestro sistema hospitalario.

Expansión de la industria de energía renovable de Arizona

Los arizonenses saben que nuestro estado tiene una conexión única con el sol. Arizona tiene el potencial de ser una fuente inagotable de energía renovable, pero la Legislatura actual del Estado ha sido un obstáculo para lograrlo. Pongamos a Arizona en camino para liderar la nación en la producción de energía solar, eólica e hidroeléctrica, y ahorremos dinero a los contribuyentes en el proceso.

Se proyecta que la energía verde, renovable y sostenible será un importante generador de empleo ahora y en el futuro; Arizona tiene el conocimiento y la infraestructura, pero ahora necesitamos pólizas que nos hagan avanzar. Trabajaré para asegurarme de que no pasemos por alto nuestras capacidades energéticas únicas.