Jackie Thrasher

Thrasher, Jackie (Democrat)

Phone: (602) 978-6767

Email: jackie@jackiethrasher.com

Website: www.jackiethrasher.com

4537 W. Park Place, Glendale, AZ 85306

(Mail: 5350 W. Bell Rd. C-122 #484, Glendale, AZ 85308)

Age: 52 (9/23/57, Detroit, MI).

Arizona since: 1960.

Occupation: Music educator, Washington Elementary School District, since 1980.

Marital: Married (John).

Children: 2.

Religious preference: Lutheran.

Education: B.M., instrumental music education, ASU, 1979.

Political experience: Precinct committeeman 2002-10; candidate for House 2002-08; Washington District Education Association, VP 2005-06; appointed public member, AZ Board on Geographic and Historic Names; AZ House 2007-09.

Memberships have included: Music Educators National Conference; AZ Music Educators Association; AZ List; National Women’s Political Caucus; AZ Education Association; Delta Kappa Gamma Society International

Interests: Reading, music.

Issues:

Political influence: Author Howard Zinn. Through his writings I learned the stories of regular people who stood up and made a difference. He reminds us that democracy is hard work and through those stories I learned a sense of determination that helped develop my desire to participate in public service.

Budget recommendations: I think our budget has been cut to the bone. I think it’s time to invest in the strategies that will give us the most return for our investment. These strategies would be to invest in education, P-20; to work with business, education and political leaders to diversify our economy; to invest in jobs for Arizonans; to restructure the tax system and eliminate some corporate tax loopholes.

Other concerns: My top two issues are protecting and improving education funding, and diversifying our economy. I am serious about investing in our future.

Fiscal philosophy: My fiscal philosophy leans to the conservative side. I believe that whatever we do, our process must be transparent.

Background & experience: I have been a teacher for 30 years and I am a former legislator. During my time as a teacher, I also served on the negotiations team. I know how to collaborate with diverse groups of people to solve real problems. I am ready to get to work.

Prop. 100 sales tax: I supported the temporary one-cent sales tax increase because it was necessary to get some revenue back into the system. I agree it is regressive, however, the Legislature didn’t do its job balancing the budget and Arizonans were faced with limited choices to try to aid in our economic recovery.

Pro-life/pro-choice: Abortion is legal in the U.S. I believe that women’s reproductive health issues are personal decisions that are made between women, their families and their physicians. I support educating young women and men about their choices through medically accurate sex education in order to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies.

One last thing: I grew up in Phoenix and I am concerned about our future. I will work for common sense, reasonable legislation that will get Arizona back on track.

Campaign Finance: public.