Despite the sweltering heat, Jim and I had a great time at the Labor Day Picnic. We collected a lot of Clean Elections $5 donations and signatures. Here I am with LD9 chair Michael Dues.

Women candidates, activists, and electeds were everywhere on Labor Day. Left to right we have: Linda Lyon (Blog for Arizona blogger and education activist), LD11 House candidate Holly Lyon, me, CD2 candidate Mary Matiella, and TUSD board member Kristal Foster.

My shady tent was very popular. Here I am with LD9 Senate candidate Victoria Steele and Attorney General candidate and Emerge Sister January Contreras.

The Living Economy event was very informative; we had a great time hob-nobbing. My husband Jim is a small business owner and a member of Local First Arizona. I have owned two small businesses in the past– Powers/Queen Associates and Wind Dancer Design. We support Local First Arizona and buying/investing locally. We believe that supporting local small businesses with low-interest loans through a public/private partnership between a public bank and community banks and credit unions is the sustainable route to improving our local economy. Trickle down economics doesn’t work; it’s time for new ideas.

Here I am with Southern Arizona Local First Executive Director Michael Peel. What a great event.

Seventh grade English teacher Wendy Nogami (second from right) invited me to shadow her for a day at Flowing Wells Junior High in LD9. Besides shadowing Wendy and touring the school, I had the opportunity to meet with Principal Chad Miller (above), board members, teachers and parents. I had a delightful experience, thanks to Wendy, Principal Miller, the rest of the staff and the students. I was very impressed with FWJH. Go, Mustangs. I am open to other field trips, BTW.