Sharon Girard
From Ballotpedia
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Sharon Girard (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Arizona House of Representatives to represent District 8. She lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Girard completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Sharon Girard was born in Long Branch, New Jersey. She graduated from the University of Southern California in 1983. Girard's career experience includes working as a physician assistant and nurse.[1]
Elections
2020
See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)
Incumbent David Cook and Frank Pratt defeated Sharon Girard and Cristefano Lessard in the general election for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | David Cook (R) | 35.7 | 45,117 |
| ✔ |  | Frank Pratt (R) | 34.6 | 43,799 |
 | Sharon Girard (D)  | 29.5 | 37,384 | |
| Cristefano Lessard (D) (Write-in) | 0.2 | 213 | ||
| Total votes: 126,513 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)
Sharon Girard advanced from the Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on August 4, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sharon Girard | 100.0 | 13,727 |
| Total votes: 13,727 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)
Incumbent David Cook and Frank Pratt defeated Neal Carter in the Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on August 4, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | David Cook | 36.0 | 10,504 |
| ✔ | | Frank Pratt | 32.1 | 9,381 |
 | Neal Carter | 31.9 | 9,295 | |
| Total votes: 29,180 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Campaign finance
Endorsements
To view Girard's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.
2018
- See also: Arizona State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Arizona State Senate District 8
Incumbent Frank Pratt defeated Sharon Girard in the general election for Arizona State Senate District 8 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Frank Pratt (R) | 56.1 | 31,181 |
| Sharon Girard (D) | 43.9 | 24,360 | |
| Total votes: 55,541 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Arizona State Senate District 8
Sharon Girard defeated Natali Fierros Bock in the Democratic primary for Arizona State Senate District 8 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sharon Girard | 53.7 | 6,244 |
| Natali Fierros Bock | 46.3 | 5,385 | ||
| Total votes: 11,629 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arizona State Senate District 8
Incumbent Frank Pratt advanced from the Republican primary for Arizona State Senate District 8 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Frank Pratt | 100.0 | 13,496 |
| Total votes: 13,496 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2020
Video for Ballotpedia
| Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released May 8, 2020 |
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Sharon Girard completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Girard's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I grew up in a small town on the New Jersey shore known for agriculture and beach recreation. I volunteered in school as a candy striper and was a girl scout. In college I moved to California and worked various office jobs which led me to nursing and eventually to the medical field. I have always been drawn to a life of service, helping and teaching others. I have always worked in small towns and communities in need of providers. I have worked with migrants on the California central valley and coast and in a midwest rural community. I am drawn to helping people learn to achieve a better life. I have traveled the world. I even practiced in England where I learned about their health system, bringing the Physician Assistant profession to their country. I have served proudly as a community advocate, joining local boards and organizing Women's Health Conferences in communities where I have lived. I rose to leadership positions with the American Academy of Physician Assistants. My hobbies are knitting and travel in my RV. I am a proud mother of a wonderful grown married daughter who helps my campaign. I am married to an artist.
- Healthcare. No one should go without the healthcare they need. Everyone should be able to afford the healthcare they need.
- Education. Public education in Arizona needs to be fully funded to 2008 and beyond. Now more than ever we must add much more money to the budget for added expenses needed to return safely to educating students during these pandemic times.
- Economy. We can come out of this pandemic stronger if we make the right decisions about the economy. Childcare, unemployment and housing are some important issues that must be addressed to keep our economy moving forward in Arizona.
Healthcare. As a healthcare provider for 30 years I saw how my patients struggled to afford and access the care they needed. No one should be denied care or go bankrupt or in debt because of healthcare costs. Arizona has consistently underfunded public health and we must prioritize this during these times now more than ever. Arizona also has a severe provider shortage, especially in rural communities, which I will represent. I have solutions for this issue and we must solve this problem quickly. There is also a rising maternal morbidity/mortality issue for women of color since our Governor took office. This issue must be addressed. We must also address the rising cost of medications in our state for the insured, underinsured and uninsured. No one in Arizona should be without a way to pay for healthcare. We must close this gap.
I am also passionate about women's rights and equality. Women are the healthcare leaders of their families, the childcare leaders and many times the head of households. We must have equal pay and fair housing and pay equity for women in Arizona. We must pass the ERA. We must make sure women in Arizona have access to all of their healthcare needs, whatever those needs are, and that that care is affordable to all women. We must also have more access for low income women to childcare, during these time of homeschooling they must have access to childcare funding so they can return to work safely.
I am also passionate about women's rights and equality. Women are the healthcare leaders of their families, the childcare leaders and many times the head of households. We must have equal pay and fair housing and pay equity for women in Arizona. We must pass the ERA. We must make sure women in Arizona have access to all of their healthcare needs, whatever those needs are, and that that care is affordable to all women. We must also have more access for low income women to childcare, during these time of homeschooling they must have access to childcare funding so they can return to work safely.
I have a personal mentor, Congresswoman Karen Bass, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. She is the only Physician Assistant ever elected to congress. She was an instructor in my PA program. Now she is being vetted for Vice President. I have always valued her advice and support. I am honored she has endorsed my campaign.
When Everything Changed, the Amazing Journey of American Women
Passion, fairness, pragmatism, comprehension of science, fact and a measure of intelligence. The ability to comprehend fact from myth and belief from truth. There is no room for judgement in politics. I must treat everyone fairly and must not judge another person based on my personal religious or bias beliefs. Those beliefs must be left at home when I come in to legislate. As with medicine. I must treat everyone the same, saint or sinner. We are all one. My religion is my personal decision and must never enter in to my personal decision making. It has no business in my political discussions. Morality and religion are not intertwined.
Passion for good work, good listener, good communicator, pragmatic, science driven, collaborator, friendly, intelligent
To set a balanced operating budget for the state. To obtain beneficial legislation for businesses and special interest groups and defeat unfavorable legislation.
I was there to help
The assassination of JFK. I was 9. I came home from school early. My mom was crying and watching TV. The whole world stopped. Everyone was very sad and moved.
I was a baby sitter starting at 13.. Wasn't every girl? I made 50cents and hour and $1 hour for holidays and New years eve. I also worked as a "mother's helper" summer vacations. I lived in with my cousin and looked after her older son, about 4, when she had a newborn. When I was 15 I was sent to CA to do the same for my aunt when she was pregnant and I looked after her 2 year old. I was paid so that was why I called it a job. When I was a mother's helper, as we called it, I lived in during the week. I did light housekeeping, fed the child, played, we went to the beach and I was responsible for his care while she had the baby. We had "beach clubs' where we went every day. It taught me responsibility. I remember it was the summer of 69 and we watched them walk on the moon all together in the living room! While all my friends were running around having fun I was earning money and working.
Stealing Heaven. The biography of Heloise and Abelard. The best love story in the world. I even visited their grave in Paris. These two love torn people lived in the 1100's. Abelard was Heloise's tutor and they fell in love. When her uncle found out he had Abelard castrated. Too late, Heloise gave birth to Astrolabe. Abelard became a monk and Heloise a nun. They continued their love by keeping their friendship up and met up doing good work for the church. I don't know why,but this timeless story has always appealed to me. Abelard is a revered cleric and teacher and has written many works on philosophy. Heloise lived a life of good works. I have read the book at least 10 times.
Fiction has no appeal to me.
"Your the one that I want", from Grease. I love showtunes
I have had some health serious issues. I contracted Hepatitis C after a blood transfusion after giving birth which caused me some serious health problems. I had liver damage and was not well for some time but thankfully I am now cured. It caused me to develop Celiac disease which went undiagnosed for decades which caused malnutrition and hospitalizations for illnesses. I was finally diagnosed 6 years ago and now healthier than I have been in decades. These health issues have taught me to persist and keep going even when my body didn't want to. Now my health is better than ever and I am ready to give back, serve and stay strong!
The House is the people's house.
No, not always. There needs to be a willingness to learn and serve. There needs to be a certain amount of intelligence and education to process facts, science and data. You must be agreeable to work with other people and be able to collaborate and compromise.
The economy coming back from the pandemic The Republicans have cost our state much damage with too many corporate giveaways, gutted educational funding and tax cuts. The pandemic will cost us dearly. We must have pragmatic and cool heads who will be wise and smart to bring us back. We must put people not corporations first. Families and children have suffered. Healthcare has suffered. We must now elect people who put lives over corporate money and people over tax givaways.
A collegial working relationship. Give and take.
When I worked in the ER we practiced together for a common cause, the good of the patient. The patient is AZ and cause is it's people. Working together and collaborating is essential. Friendship,s not so much.
Fairness and equality. No gerrymandering.
Health and Human Services. Judiciary.
I hear stories everyday about people going into debt from healthcare bills. I hear stories about rural healthcare issues. I hear stories about Covid-19 cases spreading in my district and people dying. These stories impact me. These stories compel me to fight on.
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.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Sharon Girard participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on August 27, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Sharon Girard's responses follow below.[2]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | Healthcare expanded and fully inclusive Education fully funded and hold accountable Water management and drought issues[3][4] |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | Womens rights, reproductive rights and equality for all Healthcare to cover all in our state and leave no one without coverage and access A good public district educational program that encourages all children to excelCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[4]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Sharon Girard answered the following:
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow and why?
| “ | I admire Barbara Boxer. She is like me, a powerful, mighty, tiny Jewish woman. I also look up to Rep. Karen Bass who has been a mentor, starting out like I did, as a physician assistant and going on to a congressional seat.[4] | ” |
| “ | Barbara Boxer’s autobiography.[4] | ” |
| “ | Honesty, integrity and a strong hard working work ethic. You need a passion for helping and working with people which i have demonstrated by my dedication to medicine for 30 years. You also need curiosity, an open mind and a thirst for learning new things. Life and issues change and you must keep an open mind and listen and learn.[4] | ” |
| “ | A passion for helping and working with people. I have an excitement and strong need to make a change in the world for the better for people. This has always driven me to help and to serve my community..[4] | ” |
| “ | Work to make life better and more functional for all. To tackle problems with the ability to listen, work with others and formulate a plan that is the best for all. An ability to listen, learn, discuss without bias and to compromise when necessary.[4] | ” |
| “ | I was of service to my community, cared and made Iives better.[4] | ” |
| “ | The death of JFK. I was 9. I remember the grief in my home and my world and learned about the greatness of heroes.[4] | ” |
| “ | Babysitting. I enjoyed the extra money and liked the children. I started helping out family and friends at age 12 and spent summers working as a mother’s helper. I liked being of service to my family.[4] | ” |
| “ | I don’t remember much about this. I suppose I have put it out of my mind. I’m talkative and like to meet new people even if its the first and only time.[4] | ” |
| “ | Thanksgiving. I love that the family comes together and we remember to be thankful.[4] | ” |
| “ | Stealing Heaven. The biography of Heloise and Abelard. They had a great love story and I find their lives so powerful. I have even visited their graves in Paris. Their love survived his awful ordeal of castration and both of them serving God together and apart for the rest of their Ives.[4] | ” |
| “ | I cannot think of a fictional character. I like those that have lived, like Joan of Arc and Hatshepsut from Egypt.[4] | ” |
| “ | Paintings and sculpture given to me by my husband. He is an artist and I love to look at them and appreciate his artistic talent.[4] | ” |
| “ | “We’re not going to take it” by Twisted Sister. This pretty much sums up my need to make change in this world.[4] | ” |
| “ | I was undiagnosed for years with Celiac disease and was very ill. After diagnosis and going gluten free I have healed and feel better than i have in decades. I am grateful to know what was wrong and to finally feel wonderful and enjoy life again. I want to use this new lease on life to the fullest by giving back and getting stuff done.[4] | ” |
| “ | The senate is the place for decorum and great ideas. The house is the place for hard work. Well, both chambers work hard. I believe the senator should serve the people with character and respect.[4] | ” |
| “ | No, this is not needed but I do think experience in service, community advocacy and life is essential. A good grasp of the skills needed to stand up strong for issues, the ability to listen and hear others views and a good work ethic is necessary. Politics is not a 9 to 5 job and one must have room in their life for this. Service in government is not an afterthought. Constituents deserve your attention and time. That is why I waited until I left practice and raised my family. Others must do what works for them but now I have the time and experience to serve my district. The ability to compromise and work well with others is a learned skill that takes a certain level of maturity.[4] | ” |
| “ | We must tackle our drought and water issue. Without water there is no growth, development or a good quality of life. Water is life and Arizona is a desert. We must work to come up with a viable plan for the future of our state. No other issue impacts everything we do like water.[4] | ” |
| “ | A good dialogue and a willingness to compromise and listen to the majority of constituents and work in their best interest.[4] | ” |
| “ | Of course. One must work well with colleagues.[4] | ” |
| “ | Unbiased and from both sides like our process in Arizona.[4] | ” |
| “ | Healthcare is certainly on the top of my list. My comprehension of the complexities of the issues is much needed in decision making.[4] | ” |
| “ | I will need more experience first.[4] | ” |
| “ | I like Senator Steve Farley. He is outspoken, willing to put the issues first before taking credit and knows how to make complex issues understandable and relevant.[4] | ” |
| “ | I will take this one day and one year at a time.[4] | ” |
| “ | Most stories I hear are about healthcare because of my profession. People open up to me. I am appalled and saddened by what I hear. From the distance a young mother needs to travel to get care for her asthmatic son, or the woman on medicare in the “donut hole’ who can’t afford her insulin or the woman who drives her husband hours away to go to their cardiologist or the mother who took her disabled child out of school to homeschool because his care was so lacking at his local school. I hear these stories and I know we need to do better for my rural district. These people and many more can’t wait. Their children can’t wait and we must expand services now for-them and all others like them.[4] | ” |
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 23, 2020
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Sharon Girard's responses," August 27, 2018
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
Current members of the Arizona House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Steve Montenegro
Majority Leader:Michael Carbone
Minority Leader:Oscar De Los Santos
Representatives
Republican Party (33)
Democratic Party (27)
