Anna Tovar

Anna Tovar

Tovar, Anna (Democrat)

Phone: (623) 208-3338

Email: atovar25@msn.com

8 N. 88th Dr., Tolleson, AZ 85353
(Mail: PO Box 518, Tolleson, AZ 85353)

Name pronunciation: TOE-var.

Age: 35 (9/25/74, Phoenix, AZ).

Arizona since: birth.

Occupation: Teacher (kindergarten) and former Tolleson City Council member.

Marital: Married (Carlos).

Children: 2.

Religious preference: Catholic.

Education: B.A., elementary education, ASU, 1997.

Political experience: Tolleson City Council, 2001-09; AZ House (replaced Steve Gallardo who did not take the oath of office in January 2009 after being re-elected).

Memberships have included: Friendly House, board member; Jobs for AZ Graduates Board of Directors, secretary; National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO), member; National Conference of State Legislators, member; National Hispanic Caucus of Legislatures, member; PTA for Tolleson Elementary 2009-10, vice president; Women in Government, member.

Interests: Taking my boys to their basketball games; watching basketball games, photography, scrapbooking.

Issues:

Political influence: Tolleson Mayor Adolfo Gamez. Since I was a young girl, he always inspired me to dream big. He mentored me while I was on city council and as vice mayor. He encouraged me to interview for the vacant seat at the AZ House. I’ve learned countless political lessons from him, but most importantly he is a lifelong friend.

Budget recommendations: 1. Save movie tax credit (This would save current jobs and create thousands of new jobs). 2. Create a budget structure to nurture economic growth for the long term. 3. Spending is disciplined but support mandated programs. 4. Fund job programs and economic development programs.

Other concerns: Education, job growth, and foreclosure crisis. Fiscal philosophy: A comprehensive, responsible solution that restores cuts to children, middle-class families, education and the developmentally disabled, stops tax giveaways to corporations and utilizes every federal stimulus dollar for Arizona.

Background & experience: My background and experience as a former elementary school teacher, councilmember and vice mayor provides me with a firm foundation of how to be an effective legislator. Working for my constituents is my number one job. It’s such an honor to be their voice and to fight for them on a daily basis.

Proposition 100 sales tax: I voted in favor of the temporary sales tax increase. I did what I could to support education, kids and teachers who have suffered the largest cut to education in state history made by Republicans and Governor Jan Brewer. Prop 100 is not the only solution that we need to save our state. We cannot balance the state budget on the backs of our children.

Pro-life/pro-choice: I’m pro-life.

One last thing: I am a life-long Tolleson and West Valley resident, was a teacher for five years, served on the Tolleson City Council for seven-and-a-half years and was vice mayor for two-and-a-half years until I joined the House of Representatives. As a teacher and mother, I understand the issues demanding immediate attention such as schools and hospitals, infrastructure needs, job and housing losses, and a declining economy. I have been at the forefront of diverse projects that have brought revenue and job growth to Tolleson. I am dedicated to making sure members of the community feel included in the public process, and to informing and educating constituents when tough decisions are being made or when compromise is the better path. I believe that we must do everything we can to work together towards a brighter and stronger Arizona.

Campaign Finance: private.