Arizona’s Stumbling Response to #Coronavirus Will Cost Lives (video)

Arizona List Event in Tucson, March 7, 2020

It was Friday evening, March 27, when I recorded the video below. Governor Doug Ducey and Arizona Department of Health Services Director Cara Christ had just announced that they would de-prioritizing Coronavirus testing in a state with already dismal testing rates, a climbing infection rate, and no statewide shelter in place order. Four Democratic mayors Kate Gallego (Phoenix), Regina Romero (Tucson), Cora Evans (Flagstaff), and Ana Tovar (Tolleson) bravely bucked the governor and called for the shutdown of bars and restaurants in their cities. Now LD11 Senator Vince Leach is threatening Evans and the City of Flagstaff with an SB1487 preemption challenge because their rule is more restrictive than Ducey’s executive order. Seriously, Leach? You’re more concerned about power and politics– than you are about widespread disease and death?

Arizona needs more widespread testing to track and control the spread of the virus– not less. The number of confirmed cases in Arizona has almost doubled between my March 24 Coronavirus video and the March 27 video below. Now, on March 29, there are almost three times as many cases as there were five days ago.  At that point, Arizona had 326 confirmed cases of novel Coronavirus, on Friday, there were 665, and today we have 919. The number of cases in Maricopa County has doubled in three days from 199 (March 24) to 399 (March 27) and is now at 545 (March 29). Pima County was at 42 (March 24) and more than doubled to 102 (March 27); now we are at 153 (March 29). Navajo County is also on the critical list. They have a relatively small population, compared to Maricopa and Pima, but for a while last week, Navajo was second only to Maricopa County in confirmed cases. Navajo had 32 cases (March 24) which jumped to 49 on Friday and 62 cases today (March 29). For the Navajo Nation as a whole, there are 115 confirmed cases. This is a tragic situation because their communities are far flung, roads are often rough, Internet is sketchy, and medical services are stretched thin… in normal times. These are not normal times. 

We need widespread testing in the state of Arizona, so we can see where potential hotspots are. The bridge tournament in Tucson over the weekend of March 7-8 (right before the social distancing recommendations from the federal government) has received attention because one of the attendees had the Coronavirus and exposed hundreds of other people. One woman who handled the cards of the infected man died; another person who spent time with him at the conference has tested positive. According to news stories, the Adobe Bridge Club is trying to contact the 700 conference attendees of their exposure, but the Pima County Health Department hasn’t. WHAT?!

The Arizona Department of Health Services reports the total cases each day, statewide and by county and how many people were tested. I have not been able to find more detailed data. At a national conference last fall for state legislators, they talked about the importance of transparent government data. When federal, state and local governments put de-identified data online, random data nerds (like me), academics, policy wonks, and college students can analyze it independently and potentially find trends– or mistakes. When you’re talking about public health data, more eyes on the data and more questions asked of the data are always a good thing.

Hundreds were at same Arizona event as coronavirus patient. 2 weeks later, officials haven’t contacted them

2nd coronavirus case linked to Arizona bridge tournaments attended by hundreds of people

Gov. Doug Ducey orders private laboratories to share COVID-19 test data

Coronavirus Information and Resources

Arizona Women Win 42 Legislative, State & Congressional Races (video)

Arizona has a history of electing women to public office. In 1932, Arizona elected Isabella Greenway to the US House of Representatives. In 1972, State Senator Sandra Day O’Connor was the first female president of the Arizona Senate. In 1998, Arizona voters elected five women to run the state government— Jane Hull (Governor), Betsy Bayless (Secretary of State), Janet Napolitano (Attorney General), Carol Springer (Treasurer), and Lisa Graham-Keegan (Superintendent of Public Instruction). To this date, Arizona’s Fab Five remain the most number of women elected to state government at the same time. In 2017, the Arizona Legislature had the highest percentage of women (40 percent) of any state Legislature in the Country.

In 2018, Arizona elected its first female US senator and 41 other women to political office. Out of 108 races, women won 39 percent of them this year. After inauguration in January 2019, half of Arizona’s statewide offices (4/8), 27 percent of our Congressional delegation (3/11), and 39 percent of the Arizona Legislature (35/90) will be women.

Most of the woman who won are Democrats but not all. In the Congressional races, US Senate was won by Kyrsten Sinema (D), Ann Kirkpatrick (D) took CD2, and Debby Lesko (R) was re-elected to CD8. On the statewide level, women took: Secretary of State (Katie Hobbs, D), Treasurer (Kimbery Yee, R), Superintendent of Public Instruction (Kathy Hoffman, D) and one of the Arizona Corporation Commission seats (Sandra Kennedy).

Continue reading Arizona Women Win 42 Legislative, State & Congressional Races (video)

This Week: Clean Elections Debate, House Parties & Canvassing

Pamela Powers Hannley

We have four events this weekend–starting with the Legislative District 9 Clean Elections Debate on July 19. Here are the details.

LD9 Clean Elections Debate, July 19

Randy Friese, Pamela Powers Hannley, Ana Henderson
The Legislative District 9 Clean Elections debate will be Thursday, July 19 at Pima College Northwest, 6-7:30 p.m. All five Democratic candidates will be participating, including the two House incumbents, Dr. Randy Friese and me. Here is a link to the full schedule of debates sponsored by the Citizens Clean Election Commission (CCEC). [The above picture was taken at the CCEC general election debate in 2016. Republican challenger Ana Henderson (far right, no pun intended) will face the two winners from the August 28 Democratic Primary in the November 6 General Election.] Please vote!

Arizona List Event for Rep. Pam Powers Hannley, Victoria Steele & Leila Counts, July 20

Leila Counts, Victoria Steele, & Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley

Kim Khoury has graciously offered to open her home for a joint house party for three Arizona List-endorsed candidates: former Arizona House Rep. and current LD9 Senatorial Candidate Victoria Steele, TUSD candidate Leila Counts, and me. The Facebook link for the July 20 evening event is here. To RSVP and get the address, contact Claire Knipe (claire@arizonalist.org). [The above picture was taken at a joint canvass that Victoria, Leila and I had in June.]

Joint Canvass for LD9 Incumbents, July 21

Arizona Reps. Pam Powers Hannley and Randy Friese

The Powers For The People Team and Team Friese will be canvassing in the Northwest Region of LD9 on Saturday morning, July 21. We will meet at 8:30 a.m.and leave the staging area by 9 a.m. Please meet at Road Runner Coffee, 9665 Thornydale Rd.

We will be carrying campaign lit for both LD9 House incumbents– Dr. Randy Friese and Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley. As always, we can use walkers and drivers. Please join us! Bring your hat, water, sunscreen, good walking shoes, and your MiniVan password. Facebook event here.

My team is canvassing every Saturday morning at 8:30. Watch my Events tab on Facebook to find out where we will be next.

Legislative Meet & Greet in Northwest Tucson, July 22

Rep. Pam Powers Hannley, Nathan Davis and other volunteers.
What did the 53rd Legislature accomplish? What big issues were left on the table when we adjourned? And, more importantly, where are we headed in 2019 and beyond?

Find out the answer to these questions and more at this Northwest Tucson Meet and Greet with Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley, Legislative District 9 representative in the Arizona House. The event will be hosted by Nathan Davis and Taylor Cleland at their home, from 1-3 p.m. Click on the Eventbrite link here to get free tickets and to learn the address. This is the fourth Legislative Meet and Greet that I have done this summer. Watch for more events on Facebook. [The photo above was taken at a canvass staging area in 2016. Nathan is displaying his #PowersForThePeople pink and purple.]

#PowersForThePeople Signs Available!

Rep. Pam Powers Hannley

SIGNs! You can tell it’s election time in Tucson because of the proliferation of political signs around town. You can help me empty my trunk by putting a yard sign in your yard. There is a stack of my signs at the Pima Dems Headquarters, and I will have them at all of the events listed above. Thanks for your support.

Register to Vote, July 30

July 30 is the last day to register to vote in the August 28 primary. Even if you think you are registered, you may want to check it out. Some people have been surprised to find out that their records are incorrect or incomplete. I am counting on your vote on or before the August 28 Primary and on or before the November 6 general election. There are many important primary races in 2018. Early ballots will arrive in the mail at the beginning of August.

#PowersForThePeople Summer Events: You’re Invited!

Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley

Who said Tucson rolls up the sidewalks in the summer? This town is hopping with political events this summer. I hope you can make it to some of my events. Stay tuned for updates as August events are added. You can watch the Events tabs on my website or on my Facebook page or subscribe to my blog to stay up-to-date with my campaign and other community events.

July 9: Moms Demand Action Candidate Forum, 6 p.m., St. Mark’s Church, 3809 E. 3rd St.  (Facebook event here.)

July 12: Midtown Legislative Meet & Greet with Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley, hosted by Merrill Eisenberg, Barbara Warren and Jenise Porter, 5-7 p.m., RSVP on Eventbrite here for home address.

July 19: LD9 Clean Elections Debate, 6 p.m., Pima Community College NW, 7600 N. Shannon Rd. (Facebook event here.)

July 20: Arizona List event for Victoria Steele (LD9 Senate), Leila Counta (TUSD Board) and Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley (LD9 House), hosted by Kim Khoury. RSVP to Claire Knipe at Arizona List (Claire@ArizonaList.org). (Facebook event here.)

July 22: Northwest Tucson Legislative Meet & Greet with Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley, hosted by Nathan Davis and Taylor Cleland, 1-3 p.m., RSVP on Eventbrite here for home address.

July 30: Last day to register to vote in the August 28 primary. (Register or change your registration here.)

July 31: Stop Thief! Let’s Restore Fair Taxes. Hosted by Progressive Democrats of America Tucson Chapter (PDA Tucson) and the Pima Area Labor Federation (PALF). 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the IBEW Hall, 750 South Tucson Blvd. Reps. Randy Friese and Pamela Powers Hannley will be speaking. (Facebook event here.)

August 28: Primary Election Day. Please vote for Dr. Randy Friese and me on or before August 28.

Volunteer Opportunities

Every Saturday morning from now to August 25, 2018, the Powers For The People team will be canvassing around LD9. Walkers and drivers are always welcome. Just bring your hat, water, sunscreen, walking shoes and your MiniVan password. If you want to use the VAN list on paper, I will have a couple of paper turfs available. We will be carrying literature for both LD9 incumbents– Dr. Randy Friese and Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley. (Facebook event here.)

 

Social Workers Honor Rep. Powers Hannley, Other Groups Endorse

National Association of Social Workers

Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley
Rep. Pam Powers Hannley accepting the “Elected Official of the Year” Award from the Arizona Chapter of the National Association for Social Workers.

I was so honored to be given the “Elected Official of the Year” award by the Arizona Chapter (Branch 2) of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) at their annual luncheon in March.

The NASW was the first group to endorse me back in the summer of 2016.  We had a meeting of the minds when I met with their representatives, and we talked about access to care, poverty, equity, and equal pay for equal work.

Also in March, I received endorsements from the Sierra Club and Arizona List. All three of these groups back me in my last race, and I’m proud to have their support again in 2018.

If you want to help me get re-elected, I am looking for canvassing volunteers for the coming three Saturdays: April 7, 14, and 21. These events are listed on my Facebook page here.

If you have not signed my nominating petition, you can do so here. (You will need your drivers’ license to log in and prove it is you.) Thanks for your support!

 

 

#PowersForThePeople Endorsements Keep Rolling In

Pamela Powers Hannley endorsements

Since I won the primary race on August 30, more endorsements have been rolling in. I deeply appreciate the like-minded organizations who are backing my run for one of the two LD9 Arizona House seats.

I am proud to report that the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona and the Arizona Education Association have endorsed my campaign. Thank you so much.

Now, onward to victory.