Diana Schwartz
Featured Speaker: Paul Stapleton Smith.
The Democratic Club of Quail Creek welcomed Paul Stapleton Smith as the featured speaker at its monthly meeting on June 20. Paul is an American labor leader, community organizer, and public service advocate known for representing working families, retirees, and veterans. His work has included service with civic, workforce, education, and labor organizations, including the Legislative Committee of the Arizona AFL-CIO, the Pima County Workforce Investment Board, Pima County JTED Business & Industry Council, the Policy Committee for United Way of Southern Arizona, and the Arizona Department of Education.
Strength Through Coalition
Paul’s presentation emphasized the importance of building strong coalitions between unions and community organizations. He reminded attendees that meaningful change begins when people work together around shared concerns and common goals.
* Unions bring organization, advocacy, and a voice for working people.
* Community groups connect those efforts to the everyday needs of families, retirees, and veterans.
* Together, these coalitions reflect the enduring strength of “the people.”
Bob Karp, a Democratic write-in candidate for Ariz. State Senator in LD19, spoke to the group and outlined a platform focused on education reform, rural water management, infrastructure accountability, and fiscal responsibility. For education reform, he proposed ending the ESA voucher program, which diverts funds from rural school districts, replacing it with a program that supports special-needs students who currently lack services in their local districts. On water management, he called for expanding Ariz. Department of Water Resources oversight to monitor wells pumping more than thirty-five gallons per minute, with the goal of protecting rural water resources.
Regarding infrastructure and roads: He proposes that private projects share the cost of increased emergency resources on rural roads to protect public safety and infrastructure budgets.
He will focus on mainstream values, defending public school education, fair tax policy, supporting women’s healthcare and preserving the non-partisan fraud-free election system.
When you vote, here is how to write in Bob Karp for LD19 State Senate. On your ballot find the Office of State Senate. Print in Bob Karp and be sure to fill in the oval area to the left.
Sahuarita Town Council Election
The July primary election will determine three members of the Sahuarita Town Council, each serving a four-year term. On June 17, DCQC President Carol Smith hosted a Meet-and-Greet meeting that welcomed candidates Chelsea Hundal and incumbent Deborah Morales for an open question-and-answer discussion.
Coming Up
* August 15, 3 p.m. Town Hall Meeting with Joanna Mendoza, Congressional Candidate, CD6, Kino Center.