Kyrsten Sinema often feels alone at the state Capitol, set apart from the Republican-led Legislature by her own outspoken, liberal ideas.
But this session, some of that is beginning to change.
Sinema’s demeanor brightens as she describes how every lawmaker, Republican and Democrat, signed on to co-sponsor her bill to stop Arizona from investing in “scrutinized” companies that are complicit in genocide in Darfur.
The social worker-turned lawyer and legislator said the Sudan bill is her No. 1 priority this session. And after passing two House committees unanimously, it looks as if it will be a successful one.
“I have always felt an affinity with those who ‘have not,’ and I wanted to be on their team,” she said. “I think I was born a social worker.”
Sinema was born in the year of the United States’ bicentennial in 1976, but despite her patriotic birthdate, the two-term representative said politics was not her first ambition.
“I’m not much of a red-white-and-blue kind of girl,” Sinema joked. “I prefer pinks and purples.”
Sinema does not own a television, but said one of her favorite pastimes is seeing movies in the theater. Among the filmmakers she appreciates are this year’s Academy Award-winning directors Joel and Ethan Coen, known for their dark films.
“They’re really messed up, those brothers,” she said.
Widely considered the Capitol’s resident fashion expert, Sinema said she wears a different ensemble each day for the majority of the session.
“If I wear an outfit for a second time, you know we’re in April or May,” Sinema said.
Her family was poor as she was growing up, and Sinema didn’t have the opportunity to wear nice clothes.
“I wore a lot of hand-me-downs,” she said.
Sinema isn’t fazed by her reputation as the Capitol fashionista — she said dressing well helps her enjoy even the most difficult days at the Legislature.
Her quick and sometimes off-color one-liners help lighten the mood, too.
“It makes it more fun and easier to be here,” Sinema said. “Sometimes I hate this job, but I think we all do.”
Sinema said her position and her ideas have garnered a lot of attention, not all of it positive.
“I personally have been subjected to a number of threats,” she said. “It can be scary sometimes.”
Her first job was no cakewalk either. In her teens, Sinema took a position as a rape-crisis worker, “which really is no job for a 16-year-old,” she said.
Sinema continued with social work while earning her master’s degree from Arizona State University, and became familiar with public policy as a citizen lobbyist.
Sinema said watching lawmakers work from a lobbyist’s perspective gave her the impression that “I could do a better job.”
So, she jumped into the political arena.
Though her background is not typical of a career politician, Sinema’s experience working with victims of rape and violence causes her to be a vocal supporter on their behalf.
“Social workers can and should be involved in policy,” Sinema said.
Even as the state faces a $1 billion budget deficit, Sinema said funding for some programs simply cannot be cut, including those that provide assistants to victims of rape and domestic violence.
Sinema also feels strongly about environmental issues, such as finding clean energy sources.
“We have to prepare for our future,” she said.
Sinema is up for election in November. Nobody has filed to challenge her.
The Democrat from District 15, who also teaches at the ASU School of Social Work, said: “I’m not plotting or planning to go somewhere or get somewhere. I just want to do social-justice work.”
Her Sudan bill, which is aimed at saving lives in Darfur, makes all her efforts at the Legislature “worth it.”
“I’m really glad I’m here,” she said. ≠