Charlene Tarver

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Charlene Tarver

Nonpartisan

Education

Bachelor's

New York University, 1993

Law

State University of New York, Buffalo School of Law, 1996

Other

Georgetown University, 2003

Personal

Birthplace

Syracuse, N.Y.

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Charlene Tarver ran for election to the Maricopa County Community College District to represent District 5 in Arizona. She was disqualified from the general election scheduled on November 3, 2020.

Tarver completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Charlene Tarver was born in Syracuse, New York. She earned a bachelor’s degree from New York University in 1993 and a J.D. from the State University of New York, Buffalo School of Law in 1996. Tarver also attended the Georgetown University School of Law. Her career experience includes working as a lawyer, consultant, and executive director of a nonprofit think tank.

Elections

2020

See also: Municipal elections in Maricopa County, Arizona (2020)

General election

The general election was canceled. Tom Nerini (Nonpartisan) won without appearing on the ballot.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Charlene Tarver (Nonpartisan)

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Charlene Tarver completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Tarver's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Charlene Tarver began adjunct teaching at Phoenix College of Law in 2010 and in 2017 started teaching business and Year Up! classes at Gateway Community College. Tarver has spent her life and career advocating nationally for marginalized communities of color and women. She possesses a depth of diverse policy, legal, and administrative experience and a passion for diversity and inclusion.

At the Community College level Tarver is a proponent of fiscal responsibility, greater infrastructure and technology advancements, and collective branding and community outreach across all ten campuses. She supports low taxes, low tuition, and strong programs and scholarship for all students.

Tarver earned her Bachelor's degree from NYU, a law degree from the University at Buffalo School of Law, and her LL.M. in Tax and CEBS from Georgetown Law. She is a member of 40 Under 40 and Valley Leadership and a fellow of Leading for Change and the Flinn Brown Civic Leadership Academy. Tarver also serves on the boards of the Phoenix IDA, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Georgetown University, and is the Founder/Executive Director of The Women's Economic Institute, Inc and the Black AZ COVID-19 Task Force.

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?

• Strong leadership strengthens Maricopa Community Colleges and ensures good jobs, strong families, and a thriving economy for all of Maricopa County and the State
• A solid, unified community college system positions Arizona for industry growth, high tech jobs, and higher employment wages.
• Tarver supports low taxes, low tuition, and strong programs that serve all of our students. Let's put the community back in community college.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Health, education and economic equity in communities of color.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The governing board sets policy and oversees the hiring and management of the chancellor. Strong education policy requires funding, legislative partners, and engagement with corporate and statewide decision makers.

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

I look up to my parents 1st. 2nd would be Nelson Mandela; despite adversity and oppression he conquered his prison and continued to fight against South Africa's history of apartheid.

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

Unleashing Your Powerhouse- a book I authored on why women of color should run for office and the impact our leadership has on marginalized communities.

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

A visionary leader with a commitment to serving and engaging the whole community. Must be tenacious and sticktoitive.

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

I worked in my family seafood restaurant for years. There I learned a solid work ethic and that the customer is always right.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Unleashing Your Powerhouse. It's my own personal, powerful memoir about women of color overcoming life's adversities to live into their best and greatest purpose.

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

I truly love the song "We Are the World". It is so apropos given COVID-19.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

College education is a critical part of the continuum of public education.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Policy, law, and administrative skill would be a must to get things done to move community college education forward.

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.

See also

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