A Message from Democrat Paula Aboud
Dear Friends,
As a native Tucsonan who loves my community, I'm proud to serve as State Senator from Legislative District 28. When my predecessor, Gabrielle Giffords, left the Senate in November of 2005 to run for Congress, mine was one of three names chosen by 85 Democratic Precinct Committee members of LD28 to replace her.
On January 3, 2006, I was chosen unanimously by the Pima County Board of Supervisors to become the next State Senator for our district. I have honored my peers' votes of confidence by accomplishing a smooth transition into my role as a State Senator, and by immediately getting down to business on behalf of our community.
It has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience serving this year as your State Senator and it has been an important year of policy-making. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I have had the opportunity to negotiate distribution of the budget surplus, to fight legislation detrimental to our neighborhoods, to the environment, to women, children, seniors, and families, and to protect Pima County's tax dollars (Rio Nuevo TIF funding extension) from being routed to the State Capitol. I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to vote on issues of such great importance to Southern Arizona.
Of most importance in my role as Senator is my commitment to include our community in the Legislative process. My long-time grassroots activism values continue to mold my style of leadership in the Senate---that means I bring transparency and inclusion to my constituents. I also believe that change occurs because of the combined voices of many rather than the solitary voice of one. Therefore, I have made it a point to email Legislative Alerts regularly to various groups around Tucson for broad distribution to their constituents. These alerts notify them of pending legislation that could affect their lives. In reaching out to as many people as possible, I've included groups such as the District 28 neighborhood presidents, all five Pima County Democratic District Chairs, the Pima County Democratic Party membership, progressive groups and other club presidents. I want to thank all of you who have been energized, responsive, and gotten involved in the legislative process. Your voice matters and together, we can effect positive change.
In part, my role as your State Senator is building an efficient and effective bridge between our community and our state's policy makers. As the session has progressed, I have added more and more groups to the email alerts. Any group or organization that has a large newsletter circulation or membership list online can be added to this Legislative Alert at any time by contacting me.
In addition to helping connect Tucsonans to the Legislative process, this Legislative Alert system has enabled community members to register their thoughts about legislation before being voted upon by the Senators. As most of you know, "timing is everything." The timing is right for Southern Arizona to have a strong, energized, and effective voice in our state's policy-making.
My work has only just begun. I have been effective at building coalitions in our neighborhoods, in Pima County, and, most recently, in the State Senate. I am ready to introduce legislation in the following session that will benefit Southern Arizona as well as block legislation that does harm to our community. As your State Senator, I will continue to bring integrity, thoughtfulness, and a strong work ethic to the state capitol.
Your support of me in this fall's primary election helps me to continue the work that I have already begun. With your participation, Southern Arizona's voice will be much louder and clearer in the Arizona Capitol. Join me in promoting this change to our state politics; please vote for Senator Paula Aboud on September 12, 2006.
Thank you,
Paula Aboud