Lela Alston

Lela Alston

Alston, Lela (Democrat)

Phone: (602) 278-2002

Email: lalston2@msn.com

Website: www.lelaalstonaz.com

69 W. Willetta St., Phoenix, AZ 85003

Age: 68 (6/26/42, Phoenix, AZ).

Arizona since: Birth.

Occupation: Member, Governing Board of Phoenix Union High School Dist, since 2009; section manager, Department of Economic Security-Workforce Investment Act, 2004-07; classroom teacher, Phoenix Union High School District, 1968-02.

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 board member, Phoenix Union High School District; precinct committeeman; AZ Senate, 1977-94.

Memberships have included: AZ Professional Fire Fighters Association, honorary member; National/AZ Education Association; Classroom Teachers Association; American/AZ Association of Career and Technical Education; American/AZ Association of Family and Consumer Sciences; AZ School Boards Association; Delta Kappa Gamma Society International; National Board of Directors for UofA Alumni Association; ASU Alumni Association, Devils West Chapter Board; Phoenix Union High School Alumni Board; Governor’s AZ Baseball Commission; Governor’s Motion Picture and Television Development Advisory Board.

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

Issues:

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 Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona, has also been there for all of my efforts in the political arena and continues to support, encourage and advise.

Budget recommendations: It is time to develop a sound fiscal policy that effectively and efficiently uses the state funds to promote programs that serve the public good. I would be willing to examine programs and seek input to ways to making public expenditures meet our goal. Progress was made when the state’s MVD office switched to biannual vehicle registration saving funds. To the larger issue of stable and reliable tax revenues, it’s time we examine some of the previous studies and take a serious look at ways to do things such as broaden the sales tax base by taxing “some” services while keeping the rate low. There needs to be a better balance between all tax sources that is not overly reliant on one group or kind of tax but rather that is equitably spread between all tax sources.

Other concerns: We need to preserve adequacy of education to assure a well-trained and ready workforce while assuring a safe community environment. I will promote high wage job growth to allow for 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.

Fiscal philosophy: I view myself as a moderate on fiscal issues. I’m willing to carefully consider tax policies that promote the state’s fiscal well-being while providing essential education, health and human services to families in transition needing a hand-up. A healthy and vibrant economy will benefit both businesses and individual families so that the need for some social services will be greatly reduced.

Background & experience: My years as a state senator, educator, state agency worker and governing board member have 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.

Proposition 100 sales tax: I along with a majority of voters supported the temporary sales tax that recently passed. While I recognize it is not a long-term solution and doesn’t get us fully back into fiscal balance, I supported the increase in the hopes that the economy will get better while the community and our leaders get to the business of building a sustainable economy not as subject to the ups and downs Arizona has experienced in the past few years.

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 me to promote dialog in the hopes of developing consensus and agreement to assure Arizona’s future is bright and meets the needs of our families. I am not entering this endeavor as a stepping stone to any other job, political or otherwise. I am a happy person who has a low tolerance for mean people.

Campaign Finance: private.