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Democrat – Legislative District 7 Senate
Phone: (928) 606-4998
Email: peshlakai4azsenate@gmail.com
Website: www.peshlakai4azsenate.com
Facebook: Jamescita Peshlakai
Twitter: @jamescita
Age: 46. (02/09/68, Tuba City, AZ).
Arizona since: Birth.
Occupation: Grant & lead coordinator, Navajo Nation Traditional Agricultural Outreach, 2008-13; director, Workforce Investment Act program, Native Americans for Community Action, Inc., 2004-07; outreach coordinator, NAU, Education Opportunity Centers, 1998-2000; U.S. Army, 1989-97; Persian Gulf War, 1990-91.
Marital: Divorced
Children: 2
Education: M.A., educational psychology, NAU, 2004; B.S., history, NAU, 1997.
Political experience: Candidate for Coconino County Board of Supervisors, 2008.
Legis exp: House since 2013, LD-7; member, Energy, Environment and Natural Resources committee; member, Public Safety, Military and Regulatory Affairs Committee.
Interests: I was born and raised in northern Arizona and understand the diversity and opportunities as well as challenges of living in Arizona. I am raising my two daughters here. One is at a public university and the other in the 7th grade. I work to keep them active, reading and engaged in community activities. I have travelled globally and understand that no matter our challenges, we have more opportunities here than any other place in the world. Living and working in diverse cultures and environments of northern Arizona, I love community work and outreach – it is who I am.
Two biggest issues: As a U.S. Army Persian Gulf War Veteran (71Lima), I know veterans issues are an urgent matter that need to be dealt with swiftly. I will work to make the veterans outreach and access to services and benefits my priority. The Veterans Administration is a sprawling bureaucracy not serving the needs of our most patriotic of citizens. States can have a hand in improving the national, state and local systems. Being from a rural and Native American nation, I am acutely aware of deficiencies. Child Protective Services and development of the new Child Safety and Family Services is also an immediate priority. My constituents have made it clear that their thoughts for solutions lie in prevention services. I will work to make prevention programs such as childcare, grandparent support and family support programs a basic component of keeping our most vulnerable children safe.
Budget priorities: Budget priorities that need to be addressed are in K-12 education and workforce diversification. That is a long-term solution to keeping Arizona competitive and successful. Solar and renewable energy development ought to be a priority for our windy and sun-soaked state. The Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) distribution formula needs to be addressed. Tribal nations are paying a high price in bringing revenue to the state that is returned to communities off tribal nations. This is less than fair and equitable to Arizona citizens on tribal lands. The Fuel Excise Tax falls into the same unjust redistribution formula as the TPT.
Increased revenues can begin to be addressed by not giving corporations tax breaks unnecessarily. It takes away potential opportunities from communities and places more usage on infrastructure and resources.
Fiscal philosophy: Did not respond.
Common Core: Common Core is a basic common-sense approach to readying an emerging workforce in a responsible manner.
Gifts to elected officials: Reforms are needed and campaign finance needs to be better adhered to.
Transparency in government: Transparency and public notice is a must. We cannot limit the manner in which newspapers distribute information. Communication infrastructure needs to be planned for the long term.
Pro-life / pro-choice: As a veteran and a woman, I believe a woman’s right to choose is her concern, no one else’s. We live in diverse populations and conditions. No one population’s beliefs ought to be in moral judgment of, in control of, or prevent access of another’s personal and private decisions of such. To keep safety and health of such persons in a developed nation out of harm’s way, less harm comes to our citizens when legal abortion is available and accessible.
Public policy advice: My education, culture and strong base of American beliefs.
