Lela Alston

Democrat
Candidate for Arizona House in Legislative District 24
Phone: (602) 278-2002
Email: lalston2@msn.com
Website: www.lelaalstonaz.com
Twitter: @LelaAlstonAz
69 W Willetta St #1, Phoenix, AZ 85003.

Age: 69. (06/26/42, Phoenix, AZ).

Arizona since: Birth.

Occupation: Member, Governing Bd of Phoenix Union High School Dist, since 2009; section mgr, Dept of Economic Security-Workforce Investment Act, 2004–2007; classroom teacher, Phoenix Union High School Dist, 1968-2002.

Marital: Divorced.

Children: 2; 6 grandchildren.

Religious preference: Methodist.

Education: M.S., child development and family relations, ASU, 1971; B.S., home economics education, UofA, 1967.

Political experience: Governing bd member, Phoenix Union High School Dist; precinct committeeman.

Legis exp: House since 2011; Senate 1977-1994.

Memberships: Honorary member, AZ Professional Fire Fighters Assn; Nat’l/AZ Education Assn; Classroom Teachers Assn; American/AZ Assn of Career and Technical Education; American/AZ Assn of Family and Consumer Sciences; AZ School Bds Assn; Delta Kappa Gamma Society Int’l; Nat’l Bd of Directors for UofA Alumni Assn; ASU Alumni Assn, Devils West Chapter Bd; Phoenix Union High School Alumni Bd; Governor’s AZ Baseball Commission; Governor’s Motion Picture & Television Development Advisory Bd.

Interests: Lela Alston Elementary School, students and families of the Phoenix Union High School Dist, family, reading, dog (Joe Biden), antique autos, historic restoration and preservation.

Political influence: Jim and Marcia Weeks encouraged me to get involved politically initially and still support my efforts at elective office. They provide direction by advice, involvement and example. Mike Colletto, with the Fire Fighters, has also been there for all of my efforts in the political arena and continues to support, encourage and advise. These three people have the highest of integrity and knowledge, and I am proud that they are my friends and advisors.

Job creation measures: The state needs to encourage job creation by support of industry and manufacturing via strategic tax supports that we are assured will result in job development. An example is the infrastructure support bill that passed the Legislature this past session that will help Intel and others bring jobs to Arizona. Support of the UofA medical school, the bioscience and technology industries result in high wage jobs for Arizona citizens. We can increase our supply of qualified workers with greater support of the community college system that can customize training to suit the needs of employers and career and technical education opportunities so that high school aged students can get a head start at training.

Top Issues: We need to preserve adequacy of education to assure a well-trained and ready workforce while assuring a safe community environment. In addition, I will promote high wage job growth to allow our citizens to achieve economic stability for their families and a well-being for our state. We need to stop the boom and bust cycle we have experienced and examine ways to promote stability. I will support biotech and alternative energy industries as a true potential for our state and to alleviate those economic cycles that have so harmed Arizona in the past few years. I have particular interest in supporting and stabilizing the health care and hospital industry.

Prop 100 sales tax extension: I have genuine concerns about the sales tax because of the regressive nature of the tax and would have preferred that the Legislature taken steps to close loopholes and adjust our current tax structure so that it is fairer to all taxpayers and meets our revenue needs. That said and because a need exists to adequately fund education and the state infrastructure, I will support extending the sales tax until the economy improves so that our revenues increase and/or we create at the state level an equitable tax structure.

Illegal immigration: Our law enforcement efforts need to concentrate on detaining criminals who are undocumented. There is a need for foreign workers to fulfill workforce opportunities required by many of our employers and a program that makes these workers available, legal and safe would be most welcome by employers, workers and community members.

Background & experience: My years as a state representative, state senator, educator, state agency worker and governing board member has given me a host of experiences and perspectives by which to assess public policy options and their impacts upon working families in Arizona. I’ve worked hard to find civil discourse in order to promote policies that help families and businesses.

Pro-life / pro-choice: Simply stated, I am pro-choice. I along with many believe we should support programs that delay sexual activity among teens and make birth control available so the incidents of abortion can be curtailed. The right to privacy between an individual and her doctor is essential.

One last thing: I have a history of being able to work across party lines to promote programs and services for the well-being of Arizona families. It is important to promote dialog in the hopes of developing consensus and agreement to assure Arizona’s future is bright and meets the needs of our citizens. I am not entering this endeavor as a stepping stone. I am a happy person who has a low tolerance for mean people and have a concern for all.

Campaign finance: private.