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Incumbent Senator Barbara McGuire has held her seat in the Arizona legislature, despite a strong campaign by the Republican party and the Senate Victory PAC to unseat her and pick up another seat for the party in Legislative District 8.
As one of the largest legislative districts in the country, LD8 has a population around 250,000, and includes much of Pinal County including the Casa Grande and San Tan and the Copper Corridor communities of Superior, Kearny, San Manuel and Oracle and Globe and Miami in Pinal and Gila counties, and the Gila River Indian Community. Strategically positioned for growth, LD8 includes the Golden Corridor, between Tucson and Phoenix. LD8 is home to corrections, copper, light manufacturing, retirees, agriculture, ranching, tourism and more.
McGuire is a moderate Democrat who believes in the motto “EAR”, which stands for Efficient, Accountable, Responsive government according to her website. She advocates that she is a voice for the rural communities in her district and her slogan throughout her time in the legislature has always been “The Right Choice, the Right Voice”.
During the last session, Senator Barbara McGuire had success in multiple areas. Governor Brewer signed two of her bills into law. SB 1164, which increases the maximum maturity period for certain sanitary district bonds.
“My bill will help our communities, including in rural areas, afford to construct, operate and upgrade their waste disposal facilities,” said Sen. McGuire. “These facilities play a crucial role in making our cities and towns livable and ready for growth.”
The second bill, SB1337, signed by Governor Brewer, will help bring CPR into schools for school children in grades 7 through 12.
“The legislation laid out the guidelines to how to teach it, how to bring it forward and how to implement it in the school system,” McGuire said.
Senator McGuire brought over $5.5 million dollars to smaller counties, including Pinal and Gila Counties from lotto funds. These funds were useful for sheriff’s department, roads, and other purposes. In 2014, McGuire was able to help pass CPS (Child Protective Services) reform, and restore university extension funds and other beneficial legislation, including getting CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) in schools for Arizona. McGuire is also proud to have helped defeat harmful legislation to Arizona as in the discriminatory SB1062. McGuire helped with the annual budget which includes $2 million to promote Arizona tourism and increased funding for our state’s natural resource conservation districts.
McGuire has been named “Outstanding Legislator of the Year” by both the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association, respectively. McGuire was re-elected to the newly created Leadership position of Rural Liaison.
She has been endorsed by the Arizona Education Association, Firefighters, AZ Cops, the NRA, Arizona Realtors, Dairymen, Ranchers, Farmers and many more. For a full
list visit her website, http://www.senatormcguire.com.
The race was very close, to close to call on election night ,and was referred to as a “toss up”. After several days of waiting while early mail -in and provisional ballots were counted, it was finally clear that there was another victory for McGuire.
McGuire tweeted “To everyone who contributed to my re-election I send you a heartfelt thank you. The victory is yours my friends.” She posted on her Facebook page “I am humbled and honored to have been re-elected to the AZ State Senate.Thank you L D 8 voters!”
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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