Stuart Starky

Stuart Starky (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Arizona's 4th Congressional District. He lost in the Democratic primary on August 4, 2020.

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

Biography

Starky was born in New York, New York. He earned a bachelor's degree from the Philadelphia College of Textiles & Science in 1978 and a master's degree from The University of Phoenix in 2002. He also attended Grand Canyon University. Starky's professional experience includes working as a school principal. He also owned a small business after having careers with the companies Izod and Macy's Corporation.^[1]

Elections

2020

Arizona's 4th Congressional District election, 2020 (August 4 Democratic primary)

Arizona's 4th Congressional District election, 2020 (August 4 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Arizona District 4

The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. House Arizona District 4 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Paul Gosar (R)	69.7	278,002
		Delina DiSanto (D)	30.2	120,484
		Brett Brennan (L) (Write-in)	0.0	67
		Ana Perez Gissy (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	39
		Miko Jones (D) (Write-in)	0.0	19
		Emily Robinson (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	7
	Submit photo	Don Overholser (R) (Write-in)	0.0	5

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 398,623
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Arizona District 4

Delina DiSanto defeated Stuart Starky in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Arizona District 4 on August 4, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Delina DiSanto	74.3	34,348
	Stuart Starky	25.7	11,852

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 46,200
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Robert Spry (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Arizona District 4

Incumbent Paul Gosar defeated Anne Marie Ward in the Republican primary for U.S. House Arizona District 4 on August 4, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Paul Gosar	63.1	82,376
	Anne Marie Ward	36.9	48,118

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 130,494
= 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.
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Candidate profile

Stuart Starky

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography: "The place to start on who I am is an educator for the past twenty years as a teacher and principal. This is part of the core values that leads me to be active in politics. If we are not willing to fight for the issues that impact the future for all our children, then certainly we do not belong in this campaign at this time. Cheryl and I have been married for 30 years and we have two daughters in addition to one we lost many years ago. Both the kids are out on their own and we are very proud of them. Politically I am proud of my liberal roots on social issues and equally strong on my economic issues from years as a small business owner. I have three college degrees, a bachelors from Philadelphia college of textiles and Science, a Masters from The University of Phoenix and a Masters from Grand Canyon University. I am proud of my school and the changes over my tenure. In 2004 I was nominated for teacher of the year. In 2014 I received the Spotlight on Innovation Award from the Arizona Department of Education and this past August was named Principal of the Month for Arizona by GCU. I take very seriously my engagement in politics and my campaign against Senator McCain in 2004 shows that I am willing to fight and wage any campaign where my party and our values need me. As you get to know me and what I have done over my lifetime, I hope to earn your vote. Thank you for your consideration."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Congress lacks the civility to accomplish what our country needs and this is clear in our poor handling of the pandemic. We must have a Congress that restores integrity and working across the aisle works for our people again.

Our health care system is broken under normal circumstances in providing care for most Americans. The pandemic has stretched our brave doctors, nurses and first responders beyond human limits. We must create a health care system that provides quality affordable care to all Americans.

The Trump administration has used hate, prejudice and bigotry to divide our nation and enact policies that are destroying our landscape and environment and destroying our social fabric. Together we need to LEAD the CHANGE to restore the potential of our great country.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Arizona District 4 in 2020.

Campaign themes

2020

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released July 11, 2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

Stuart Starky completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Starky'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.

The place to start on who I am is an educator for the past twenty years as a teacher and principal. This is part of the core values that leads me to be active in politics. If we are not willing to fight for the issues that impact the future for all our children, then certainly we do not belong in this campaign at this time. Cheryl and I have been married for 30 years and we have two daughters in addition to one we lost many years ago. Both the kids are out on their own and we are very proud of them.

Politically I am proud of my liberal roots on social issues and equally strong on my economic issues from years as a small business owner. I have three college degrees, a bachelors from Philadelphia college of textiles and Science, a Masters from The University of Phoenix and a Masters from Grand Canyon University.

I am proud of my school and the changes over my tenure. In 2004 I was nominated for teacher of the year. In 2014 I received the Spotlight on Innovation Award from the Arizona Department of Education and this past August was named Principal of the Month for Arizona by GCU.

I take very seriously my engagement in politics and my campaign against Senator McCain in 2004 shows that I am willing to fight and wage any campaign where my party and our values need me.

As you get to know me and what I have done over my lifetime, I hope to earn your vote. Thank you for your consideration.

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?

Congress lacks the civility to accomplish what our country needs and this is clear in our poor handling of the pandemic. We must have a Congress that restores integrity and working across the aisle works for our people again.
Our health care system is broken under normal circumstances in providing care for most Americans. The pandemic has stretched our brave doctors, nurses and first responders beyond human limits. We must create a health care system that provides quality affordable care to all Americans.
The Trump administration has used hate, prejudice and bigotry to divide our nation and enact policies that are destroying our landscape and environment and destroying our social fabric. Together we need to LEAD the CHANGE to restore the potential of our great country.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My interests in service in Congress are wide, however specifically; addressing the inequities in our public school system and expanding the potential of our schools would be one key area. A second area of concern is to address the issues of climate change and to restore the national parks that have been downsized by the President. Our tax code is biased towards the wealthy and has been the foundation of systemic generational poverty. We must create a fair tax code in order to lift people out of poverty and to assure our financial future reducing the debt that has served to create the widest range between rich and poor.

Finally I believe we must enact a health care system which provides coverage to every American and does so in a system where cost is not a factor in care and where we no longer allow corporations to get rich of those with medical needs.

All this can be summarized in believing that our system of government and the influence of corporations over people and the impact of money over virtue has created a government that no longer serves the people of this country. Ask yourself if a Flint MI water crisis would happen in a rich upscale neighborhood, would a pipeline be built through a rich upscale community against the wishes of the landowners, would we tolerate the social and economic abuse of systemic poverty to Anglo kids that we do to minority kids. Would we take children from parents and put them in cages if they were white? Therefore I am a candidate .

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

Today that answer is clear, I look up to Senator Bernie Sanders. Senator Sanders is a man who has challenged the mainstream and the opposition for his lifetime and has stood by his beliefs for ever. I hope as a member of Congress I can work with him on moving forward our core values.

I like to think that I have had my life shaped by many and those many reflect what I believe today. It seems while I had idols in sports they were short lived. Most of my role models were from politics. Senator Robert Kennedy was an early influence as a child, other politicians have influenced my engagement in politics as have many issues.

I know that if elected the voters will have a solid idea of who I am and whatI stand for because my path was written by the influences of many and the values of a few. The most impactful person in my life has been my mother. She raised the six of us and always was sacrificing when she needed to. She guided us and instilled a core in all of us.

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

Integrity. The people should know who they are getting when they vote for me and there should be no surprise in my actions or votes when elected. Those actions or votes should match who I am and what I said. With integrity comes a commitment to work while in office. To represent the people and to be available to hear their concerns and their views.

Integrity means you work with all to accomplish the best for the most. It means you give in some to get more. It means you are willing to accept what you can do and be bothered by what you could not do.

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

I am willing to research, dialogue and develop ideas to solve problems. I believe I have strong leadership qualifications exampled by my tenure leading my campus. Most important, I seek to serve and work for the people of my district and Arizona and this country. I will do this job with integrity and honesty.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I do not care about legacy. I do not care fi people know the role I played in the accomplishments to come. I do care that people know I fought for them, cared about them and did what I could to make just decisions that positively impacted peoples lives.

I think my legacy is that I ran, that I did not stand silently or care about the odds.

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

I have a very clear memory of the assassination of President Kennedy and the events that followed. I would have been about six years old. I believe it was more the impact it had on my parents that built the images for me. What I think of the most with this incident was not the Presidency of Kennedy because I was to young, it was the value of such a person on the country that I remember most, the way the country grieved and how it seemed to change the idealism of the country.

The first historical event that I remember on my own was the Moon Landing in 1969. I remember watching the event on our small television and being amazed at the scope of what was happening. To this day this event has inspired me that anything we try and want to accomplish is possible. I was 12 years old.

I believe our lives are shaped by a process of historical events. I know I have my core values because of those who came before me.

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

Besides a paper rout at 13. My first job was at Waldbaums supermarket and my first position was bringing in the wagons from the parking lot. Eventually I got to stock merchandise. I got the job at the age of 15 years when I was first allowed to work. I was very proud of this job because I was the second oldest of six kids being raised by a single mom.

I worked at the job throughout the end of high school before leaving for college. I am proud that after beginning the job I joined the union. I will never forget that first 25 cent raise because I was in the union.

On my first day that I was supposed to report to work, there was a picket line, I went home instead of crossing that line, no matter how much I looked forward to that first paycheck to help at home. That first job and its less then $2 an hour pay rate was in fact the beginning of the very path and values that I live by today. I will always be grateful for that first job.

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

Do you hear the people sing, from Les Mis.

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

Many years ago we lost a daughter at birth. Nothing compares to it. I have spent the past decades trying to honor her. I will never accomplish enough.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

I support an independent committee to do the redistricting however it should be clear that when a district is gerrymandered the line should be invalidated and the committee sent back to work. If you looked at the shape of the district I am campaigning in, you could not come up with a logical conclusion on its shape.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Each year I am part of a field trip to Washington DC with my school and part of that trip includes a tour through the capitol. Within that building is the potential to change the world and our future place in it. Great leaders have spoken words that changed who we are and what we became.

The House is also a reminder of what we can do wrong. Those who spoke against ending slavery, those who tried to keep our races apart, those who deny a quality of life to Americans and immigrants who came to live the American Dream.

That is the power of the House of Representatives, the potential of people to rise up and do great things. The part it plays in a system of government that will decide the fate of our nation. To lead us to war or peace, to prosperity or decline.

Perhaps one of the greatest impacts of our system is the very idea that in deciding representation, people actually agreed to consider blacks less than a person. If we need to discuss the impact we can have in the House of Representatives, it all starts there.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

No I do not. I believe that people can come from any walk of life and any background to become great leaders or to empower a new course. I believe that it is best to have a broad based coalition of backgrounds and ideas to govern best.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Our greatest challenge faces us now. Finding a leadership and way out of this pandemic and what do we want to look like as a country for generations to come. The choices we make now will impact generations. Our country has become embroiled in a conflict of our making. Hatred has gained strength and rooted itself into our every day life. No matter what we face economically or globally, we must address the internal issues of our time.

We can solve our debt crisis, we can fix our schools, we can improve our infrastructure, we can achieve new medical breakthroughs. We can address the issues of climate change. If we do not address the issues that divide us spiritually and bond together no matter our race or religion, we will never truly achieve the promise of our country.

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

I hope to be able to serve on the Education committee, Natural resources and Agriculture. I selected these committees because of the direct impact I can have on my constituents and the impact on policy it can have for our country. CD4 faces a future of uncertainty in regards to access to water. It should be a must that I seek these assignments.

In addition to these committees I hope to dialogue with key members of the House and Senate on how I can best be seated to promote the agenda we seek to move forward. I know that as a freshman member I have to work to gain the relationship within the House to move my policies forward. I certainly hope to work effectively across the aisle when possible to move our country forward.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

No I have always thought it was to short and you are almost starting anew campaign as soon as you are seated. Since a Senator is 6 years, I think a House term should be 3 years. This way after 2 terms the seat coincides with a Senate term.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I support term limits. I believe that both a house and Senate member should be limited to 12 years in service in the same office.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

I do not expect to assume a leadership role in my first term, most likely not in my service in Congress. However I do look forward to playing a role in electing leadership and in seeking change to a more progressive and vocal leadership on social changes.

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

I am not going to pcik a representative. i am going to select Senator John McCain. While we disagreed on many or most issues, his willingness to collaborate, his ability to influence and his commitment to the people of this country made him a true statesman. I would hope that my tenure would be looked upon in the same light.

Both sitting representatives 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?

I was attending a small event in Kingman Arizona when a woman approached my table. She told me that her daughter tried to commit suicide and that in her county NOT ONE facility existed to help her. I have made only one promise during this campaign to only one person. I told her I would bring mental health care to her city.

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.

External links

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Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 11, 2020

[show]

Arizona's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Ruben Gallego (D)

Mark Kelly (D)

Representatives

District 1

David Schweikert (R)

District 2

Eli Crane (R)

District 3

Yassamin Ansari (D)

District 4

Greg Stanton (D)

District 5

Andy Biggs (R)

District 6

Juan Ciscomani (R)

District 7

Vacant

District 8

Abraham Hamadeh (R)

District 9

Paul Gosar (R)

Republican Party (6)

Democratic Party (4)

Vacancies (1)

[bio-1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 11, 2020

[1]

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Stuart Starky

Contents

Biography

Elections

2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Arizona District 4

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Arizona District 4

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Arizona District 4

Candidate profile

Campaign themes

2020

Video for Ballotpedia

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

Trending

Public Policy

Information for candidates

Get Engaged

Services

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