By Brandy Reese, candidate, Arizona House, District 13
Growing up, I did not have it easy. Born to young parents who struggled to make ends meet, I saw education as my way out of the economic challenges of my youth.
Students growing up like I did deserve a quality, public education and have the opportunity to better their life, just like I did.
Right now, that’s not happening in Arizona.
After graduating from college, I worked for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as a forensic scientist and peace officer for 14 years.
As a forensic scientist, I learned to make decisions based on evidence and facts — a skill that our elected officials often lack. Instead of looking for common-sense solutions, lawmakers take extreme, partisan stances designed to achieve headlines, not solutions.
As a result, our students and most vulnerable Arizonans get left behind.
Lawmakers’ partisan stances don’t just impact education, they are impacting our basic healthcare freedoms.
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, my teenage daughters, seeing their rights stripped away, told me they didn’t want to live in Arizona anymore.
This was the final push that inspired me to run for office–extreme rhetoric and weakened reproductive freedoms shouldn’t be our state’s reality. That’s why I support measures that protect access to abortion, IVF, and contraception.
My name is Brandy Reese–I am a mother, forensic scientist, and a lifelong education advocate. I am excited to be running for office and have the opportunity to represent you in the state legislature.
Together, we can ensure a brighter future for Arizona.
We invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this topic. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.
