Stephanie Stahl Hamilton was elected to an LD 10 (Tucson) State House seat in the Arizona Legislature in November 2020. She was sworn into office in January 2021. As a member of the State House, she has voted for:
- Additional funding for childcare services.
- Grants for broadband services.
- Emergency shelter beds for the homeless.
- Protecting the Permanent Early Voting List and Voter Rights.
- Fully funding the Proposition 208-Invest in Ed account.
- Public safety during the Coronavirus.
- Not allowing people to enter school grounds with a firearm.
With the resignation of State Senator Kirsten Engel (who is running for Congress), Representative Stahl Hamilton, after going through an extensive screening process, will now become the new State Senator for LD 10 on October 28, 2021.
As a member of the Senate, Senator Stahl Hamilton will work on protecting:
- Voting rights and democracy.
- The water supply.
- The environment.
- LGBTQ and minority rights.
She will also follow Representative Kelli Butler’s lead in looking for ways to expand KidsCare to vulnerable children. Senator Hamilton will also listen to Tribal leaders in helping to formulate the best ways to transition their communities away from the coal industry.
Stahl Hamilton discusses her first year in the Arizona House and goals in the Senate next year.
The questions and her responses are below.
1) Please tell the readers how you were selected to fill out the remainder of Senator Engel’s term for Legislative District 10.
“It is a process that starts with a nomination among the elected PCs. There were four of us. The P.C.s voted in several rounds and submitted the list of the three finalists to the Pima County Board of Supervisors. The vote was 4 to 0 with one abstention in favor of my candidacy. I will be sworn in on Thursday (October 28, 2021) on the floor of the Senate.”
2) Please tell the readers your two proudest moments serving in the Arizona State House.
“In the budget, I was able to introduce an amendment to establish rural management areas for water in the state. It did not go forward but will move forward with something like it next year.”
“It was an honor and a privilege to be a part of the Arizona delegation sent to Washington DC to support the Democratic Representatives from Texas. Delegations from many of the United States stood in solidarity and advocated for the US Senate to pass the For the People Act. The Freedom to vote needs to be preserved. State Legislatures throughout the U.S. are putting our voting freedoms at risk. Being able to represent my constituents at the state and federal levels is an honor and I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve in this capacity.
3) What are at least three issues you would like to work on as a member of the Arizona State Senate?
“Until we can have a shift in the balance of power in the State Legislature, we will not be able to do anything on climate change. We need to protect voting rights to shift the power dynamic and work on issues like climate change, water, sustainability, and equitable transition out of the coal industry toward other jobs. I will also work on expanding quality, affordable, and accessible health care for our children. I will also work on protecting the LGBTQ community from discrimination and bullying and being proactive on launching measures to combat the assault on these residents and honor these children and protect them as they grow into their adult selves.”
4) In the 2022 elections, what are at least two reasons voters should elect you over any opponent in the Senate race?
“I am an experienced legislator. I have made the time to work for my constituents, reach out to Arizonans, and build the relationships to shape and move legislation. Policy matters but nothing will get done without building the relationships.”
“The voters can know and trust that I will never trade my values for votes. I am who I say I am, and I will continue to put the work in that they elected me to do.”
5) Is there anything not covered in the first four questions that you would like the readers to know about you and your candidacy? Please explain.
“My campaign slogan was “fight like a mom.” That is what drives me in fighting for them and the future. If we do not have enough water or air to breathe, how will they live? What drives me is the world we will leave for my children’s generation and those after them. It is about the investments we make now and the resources we use to create a sustainable future for them as they move forward in their lives. That is what compels me to want to serve the people of LD10 and Arizona.”
To find out more about State Senator Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, visit stahlhamiltonforaz.com.
