Arizona House of Representatives District 19 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Arizona, 2022

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On the ballot: U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Governor • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • Supreme court • Appellate courts • Local judges • State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • School boards • Municipal

This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Arizona House of Representatives District 19 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

• Click here to see candidates and election results.
• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Arizona House of Representatives District 19 (2 seats)

Incumbent Gail Griffin and incumbent Lupe Diaz defeated Sanda Clark in the general election for Arizona House of Representatives District 19 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Gail Griffin (R)	38.6	53,891
✔		Lupe Diaz (R)	35.5	49,561
		Sanda Clark (D)	25.9	36,242

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 139,694
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

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Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Sanda Clark (D)

Freedom to vote is the cornerstone of our Democracy it is a sacred right and also our responsibility to safeguard and protect now, and into the future.

Water- is a major concern for Arizona and a real concern for residents in LD 19, whose wells are running dry. Water is essential for life and contrary to what some may think it is not an infinite resource.

Invest in the best public education anywhere, by providing teachers with competitive salaries and the necessary support (staff, classroom materials, technology, etc) to attract and retain the best talent

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Sanda Clark (D)

• Protecting our Democracy is most important to me. Having grown up under an autocratic regime, protecting our freedoms is at the top of my agenda. Access to the ballot box should be easy and safe. This should not be a partisan issue, this is an American right.

• I am passionate about public education. All children deserve a powerful, purposeful public education that helps them build the skills necessary to reach their full potential to succeed in the modern economy and become informed and active participants in our democracy. Every public school should be well-funded, safe, and welcoming—a place where families want to send their children, where teachers want to teach and where students find joy in learning.

• The water situation reaching alarming stages is of great concern for me. Current legislators, some in office for decades, are doing nothing as the wells are running dry in Cochise county. Climate change and non-sustainable groundwater reserves demand action now but our current legislators continue to ignore the problem because of their alliances with the oil and gas industries that fund their campaigns. In doing so, they are robbing us of our future.

• I am dedicated to serving the people in LD19. We need leaders that will put AZ's working families ahead of the billionaires and corporations that feed their campaings.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Sanda Clark (D)

In music, I admire the great Romanian conductor, Sergiu Celibidache, an incredible musician, who put music-making first, sacrificing having a permanent orchestra because his need to insure masterful memorable performances demanded more than any board of directors could accommodate because of fiscal constraints. In politics today I admire greatly Rep. Liz Cheney of WY and Rep.Katie Porter of CA, who is a single mom working every day to deliver for her constituents and the American people, holding big business and less than scrupulous people to account, correcting wrongs, daily. Liz Cheney who has demonstrated her dedication to our country and our Constitution, sacrificing perhaps her return to Congress.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Sanda Clark (D)

One of my favorite books is "The Queen's Gambit" - it shows that nothing is impossible

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Sanda Clark (D)

• Common sense, common ground

• Facts over fiction •People over profits • Sound policies • The State House should not be a fantasyland • Reality is a good place to be (particularly as a lawmaker!) •Honesty •Integrity •Realistic about what he/she can deliver •Being mindful of and caring for the underprivileged in society •Empathy and foresight

These are some of what I deem important qualities for an elected official

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Sanda Clark (D)

Hard-working, courageous, perseverant, creative, determined, highly organized, a good listener, and eager to learn.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Sanda Clark (D)

Legislators develop and consider policies and positions. A legislator must actively seek out factual information from a broad spectrum of stakeholders. A good representative remains accessible to all of his/her constituents. Ultimately a representative must pass sensible and effective legislation that will improve the quality of life of the people he/she represents

What legacy would you like to leave?

Sanda Clark (D)

She never stopped trying to do better

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Sanda Clark (D)

The first historical event that I remember was listening to the entire broadcast of Yosef Stalin's funeral over the radio in Bucharest. I was 7 years old. Indoctrination in communist Romania started from kindergarten. It was the first time that my parents realized I was being turned into a little communist party girl that could become a threat to them. They determined it was time to leave.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Sanda Clark (D)

My first job was at UT Austin- accompanying singers and string players for 2 years. It was UT's very wonderful program offering students in need a way to support themselves while working towards a degree. I held the position for 2 years and then was upgraded to Teaching Assistant, providing piano instruction in the University's music department Piano Lab, to music majors undergraduates whose instrument was other than the piano.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Sanda Clark (D)

Queen's Gambit, is the perfect book that illustrates that following one's passion, makes a dream possible to become reality.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Sanda Clark (D)

LASSIE

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Sanda Clark (D)

Leonard Cohen Hallelujah

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Sanda Clark (D)

To accept the fact that not everything was up to me

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Sanda Clark (D)

The ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature is achieved when both are dedicated to serving the citizens of Arizona. Implementing a shared vision of prosperity, security, and a healthy future to improve the quality of life for all. Lately, this has not been the case as so many politicians feel their first responsibility is to those that helped them get elected and their chief priority is to stay in office.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Sanda Clark (D)

• The future of our Democracy-protecting our freedoms to prevent our country from becoming an Oligarchy under a totalitarian Government. That requires more than one party that shares in this goal. It is sad that the old Republican party has disappeared into this cult that prefers autocrats and conspiracy theorists over our own democratic government.

• Climate change - Consider what is happening with the Colorado River — the primary sustainable water supply for Arizona. Rural communities with smaller groundwater reserves and no access to dwindling Colorado or other smaller river flows will be the first to run out of water which will affect jobs and the housing market in a big way. The current legislature continues to ignore the problem. HB 2411 most recently passing the House is a perfect example of a legislator's dereliction of duty. If part of our state becomes uninhabitable, what else matters?

• The lack of investment in public education is a huge concern. It is time to move Arizona from the current position of next to last for the quality of the public schools and teachers' salaries. Continuing to gut our public education does more than just rob kids of a bright future, and lift many out of poverty, but it also affects the state economically. No businesses would consider relocating to an area where the quality of education is poor.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

Sanda Clark (D)

Unicameralism could be a simpler more efficient way to the legislative process, even if the number of legislators remains unchanged as there are fewer institutions to maintain and support financially. The question is -Is cutting costs the only or best answer to our current problems?

Having two legislative chambers offers the opportunity to re-debate and correct errors in either chamber in parallel, and in some cases to introduce legislation in either chamber.

Unicameralims have the distinct potential for a lack of restraint of the majority, especially if the majority also dominates the executive. That concerns me and should concern any patriotic American that wants to keep our republic.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Sanda Clark (D)

I am not sure. It might be. But look at Zelensky! What is important in my view, is for a politician to have a strong moral core and healthy principles. To me, the integrity to put his constituents and the Constitution before his/her private interests are more important than experience. Lack of experience can bring a great deal of fearlessness and a wealth of new fresh ideas to the mix. I do believe in term limits- I deplore the revolving door policy so prevalent in Arizona.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Sanda Clark (D)

I definitely do. We can only succeed when we respect each other and trust that we share in the common belief that the best interest of our constituents and country is our guiding principle in introducing and passing bills.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Sanda Clark (D)

I favor TRANSPARENCY! First, allow the residents to submit plans and make those plans available to the public; second, require that all meetings, and hearings concerning redistricting be open to the public.

The most common criteria used for redistricting include:

•Contiguity •Consistency with natural and political boundaries (county lines, for example) •Compactness (low perimeter to area ratio or a similar measure) • Competitiveness

Little of the above criteria were used this time around when our LD19 was artificially manufactured

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Sanda Clark (D)

My first choice would be to serve on the appropriations, education, or Government committees. Honestly, any committee would be an honor to serve on.

If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?

Sanda Clark (D)

N/A

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Sanda Clark (D)

Janet Napolitano.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Sanda Clark (D)

I don't think so.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Sanda Clark (D)

Please read the horror stories of some living in my LD19. This is from an article in BuzzFeed:

..."Towns in the valley rely primarily on water drawn from wells for their homes and businesses. And as groundwater levels decline due to agricultural pumping, more and more residents are reporting their wells running dry.

Barbara Kaiser and her husband drove west in their motorhome a decade ago with plans to build a home and retire on their 80-acre property. But her husband died, and Kaiser, now 74, was burdened with figuring out how to haul water after her well ran dry for the second time in June. She also had to choose between saving money to deepen her well or saving for the home she still hopes to build on her property."

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/caitochs/colorado-river-shortage-arizona-drought

Tell us your favorite joke.

Sanda Clark (D)

I don't have one. When you grow up in Romania, you don't develop a sense of humor. You are taught to persevere and excel!

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Sanda Clark (D)

State legislatures have wide-ranging “police powers” to create laws that promote public health, welfare, and safety. While executive officials should have the ability to respond quickly to an imminent crisis, the ultimate responsibility for determining public policy should remain with state legislatures. I believe it is prudent and it is their constitutional duty to provide a check on their governors, even in emergency situations. YES

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Sanda Clark (D)

I believe it is impossible to legislate without compromise. However, compromise should never come at the expense of one's moral principles. I believe to be an effective legislator one must be free to use the best judgment to ensure that every bill contains the best and fairest possible balance between the interests of the various entities that will be affected by it. Ultimately a good legislator crafts successful legislation, for the greater good of all his/her constituents.

See also

More about these elections:

• Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2022

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