Luisa Evonne Valdez

Valdez, Luisa Evonne (Green)

Phone: (602) 413-3182

Email: lehallvaldez@gmail.com

Website: www.luisavaldez.com

1501 E. Whitton Ave. #450, Phoenix, AZ 85014

Age: 26 (4/02/84, Oceanside, CA).

Arizona since: 1986.

Occupation: I am a disabled Army veteran, full-time student, and volunteer community organizer.

Marital: Partnered (Marisa Hall, insurance).

Religious preference: No preference.

Education: Holistic health care degree in western herbalism, Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, 2011; North High School, 2001.

Political experience: None.

Memberships have included: United Plant Savers, American Legion.

Interests: Alternative medicine, yoga, journaling, reading, activism/advocacy, watching movies.

Issues:

Political influence: I take inspiration from local leaders like Meg Sneed, Joe Larios, Jim Munoz, Jr., Michael Weakley, Kyrsten Sinema, Calvin Goode, Lincoln Ragsdale, Ernesto Ortiz, Jessica Pettitt, Laurie Provost, and Madelaine Adelman.

Budget recommendations: I feel that there are huge revenues available from business and tourism for our communities in our state. If larger businesses were paying full taxes without huge incentives/tax breaks and were also required to have community benefit agreements that hold them accountable to providing for their surrounding communities, our state and its people would benefit tremendously. I also feel that tourism to our state could grow tremendously if marriage equality was implemented.

Other concerns: Diversity issues regarding benefits for young veterans, comprehensive women’s health that is affordable/accessible, nondiscrimination policies inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity, and ecological protection and conservation regarding water resources, parks/open space, sustainable clean energy, and preservation of natural and historical areas.

Fiscal philosophy: I believe in a balanced budget, fair taxation across all economic boundaries, true cost pricing, living wage, banking and insurance reform, ecological and community based economics and sustainability.

Background & experience: I am a local, home-grown candidate, raised almost entirely in District 15. I joined the Army when I was 17 and it instilled in me my core values of: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. However, my passion, enthusiasm and desire to create change truly came from being part of my community. I am the only Green Party candidate running in our district and believe it’s important to represent the 10 key values of The Green Party: grassroots democracy, social justice and equal opportunity, ecological wisdom, decentralization, non-violence, community-based economics and economic justice, feminism and gender equity, respect for diversity, personal and global responsibility, and future focus and sustainability.

Proposition 100 sales tax: I oppose the tax increase because the ultimate answer to our state’s budget crisis should not lie imbalanced on the backs of our children, educators, public safety and tax payers but on those of the Legislature to ensure fiscal responsibility.

Pro-life/pro-choice: A woman’s right to control their body is non-negotiable. It is essential that the option of a safe, legal abortion remains available. The “morning- after” pill must be affordable, easily accessible, and distributed unbiased without a prescription, together with a government-sponsored public relations campaign to educate women about this and all forms of contraception, their bodies, and responsibilities regarding sexual activity, regardless of age or marital status.

Campaign Finance: private.