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Voter Guide

Arizona Senate, District 24

Arizona's 30 state senators each represent a unique district of voters. Republicans have held the majority in recent years, although most recently by only a handful of votes.The job pays $24,000 a year, plus mileage and per-diem during session.

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Vicki Alger
(Rep)
Lela Alston
(Dem)

Social Media

Biographical Information

Why are you the best person for the job?

Do you support the teacher pay-raise plan passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Doug Ducey? Why or why not?

State funding for Arizona schools remains below pre-recession levels. How should the state address funding for its schools in next year’s budget? How would you pay for any increases?

Does Arizona do enough to require accountability and transparency for charter schools?

Would you support stricter gun laws, including raising the minimum age to 21 for all gun purchases, banning bump stocks and universal background checks on gun sales between private parties?

What should Arizona do to prevent mass shootings in schools?

As a legislator, would you be inclined to support additional tax cuts for individuals or businesses? If so, which taxes would you like to see reduced?

Should recreational marijuana use be legalized in Arizona? Why or why not?

Has Arizona taken the right approach by increasing restrictions on abortion providers and clinics? Why or why not?

What should Arizona be doing to prepare for a potential water-shortage declaration on the Colorado River?

Would you support a statewide law that bans discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in public accommodations, such as restaurants and other businesses? Why or why not?

Would you support a statewide law to allow business owners and others to deny services to customers based on religious beliefs? Why or why not?

In terms of the economy, how can the Legislature best encourage sustainable growth that benefits people of all income levels?

Do you support further expanding the Empowerment Scholarship Account program, which provides state funding for private-school education?

What is your position on Proposition 305, the ballot measure that would repeal the Legislature’s 2017 expansion of the voucher program?

What role should Arizona play in helping the federal government secure the border with Mexico?

Has the Legislature done enough to address concerns about sexual harassment among its membership?

Is there an issue not mentioned about that you feel hasn’t received enough attention at the Capitol? How would you address it?

What is the greatest threat to Arizona’s future, and how would you address it?

Last spring, lawmakers – at the direction of the governor’s office – opted to not authorize the state’s expenditure of $56 million in federal aid for child-care costs for the working poor. Should the state accept the $56 million? Why or why not?

Family members who take in their relative’s children when the kids are removed from their parents’ home get a sliver of the money paid to foster parents, about $45 a month, compared to $650. What responsibility, if any, does the state have to these family members? Should they be paid the same as foster parents?

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Age 77

Family Two adult children, six grandchildren.

Facebook http://LelaAlstonAZ

Twitter @LelaAlstonAZ

Campaign Phone (602) 696-3780

I have experience in the legislature and working with communities to address issues that concern Arizonans. I was a teacher for 35 years in the Phoenix Union High School District and I have worked in the legislature for 26 years. I use my institutional knowledge to help newcomers in the legislature become better legislators. With my background and experience, I focus on ways to strengthen the education system and improve health care and economic conditions for children and families. I voted for Medicaid expansion, support additional funding for teachers and schools, I supported lifting the freeze on Kids Care, and I opened my campaign to collecting signatures for Invest In Ed and Outlaw dirty money while canvassing. Strong families mean a strong Arizona, and I will continue to fight for families, no matter what. That's why I am the best person for the job.

No, I don't support Ducey's plan for teacher pay raises. First, no sustainable funding stream was established, so there is no guarantee that educators will see all of the money promised. Second, it still doesn't restore funding to 2008 levels. Third, not every school district received the nine percent because it was based on an average of teachers salaries.

My priority would be to establish a sustainable funding stream by eliminating the funding to "Freedom Schools," rehire state auditors to recoup taxes for the state and close tax loopholes, raise corporate and high wage earners income tax, and eliminate most tax credits.

No, they do not. We need more transparency with our charter schools and they need to be held same standards as our public schools in regards to procedures and accounting.

Yes, I would support stricter gun laws like raising the minimum age to 21 for all gun purchases, banning bump stocks, and requiring universal background checks on gun sales, including between private parties.

Evidence based research shows that requiring universal background checks and permits reduces gun violence. Implementing those practices, along with closing the gun show loophole, raising the minimum age to 21 for all gun purchases, and banning bump stocks would all help reduce gun violence and mass shootings. We also need to provide more counselors and mental health professionals at all of our schools.

No, we have already cut taxes too much and created too many tax credits. This is why we have a funding crisis for public education.

No, it will make the drug more available to our youth. I do support decriminalizing it.

No, we have not taken the right approach, and many of these restrictions should be rolled back. The increased restrictions make it harder for women to access their legal right to abortion. These restrictions often claim to help women, but they are not based on any kind of science or evidence. These restrictions are also insulting to women by taking their reproductive health choices out of their hands and putting them into the governments. Women's reproductive health choices should be made by a woman and her doctor, and no one else.

The governors effort to address water issues failed last session because not all stakeholders were invited to participate, as was the case when the Ground Water Management Act was decided. If we are going to really prepare for water-shortages, we need all stakeholders at the table to design a proper plan.

Absolutely. LGBTQ Arizonans deserve to have the same rights as everyone else, and they deserve to be treated as equals.

No. Using ones religion as license to discriminate is a practice that needs to be stopped and shouldn't be supported by the government.

In addition to k-12 funding, we also need to fund community colleges, universities, and expand and fully fund Joint Technical Educational Districts to help get as many people educated as possible to support our industries and workforce.

No, I don't support the Empowerment Scholarship Account program. This is a voucher program that takes money away from public schools and has been proven (by an investigative journalism article by the Arizona Republic) to not help low income communities and basically works as a tax credit for the wealthy. I am opposed to spending public money on private and religious schools.

I will vote NO on Prop 305 to repeal the expansion of the voucher program, and I will encourage others to do so as well, because vouchers take money away from our public schools, they don't help our low income populations and basically work as a tax break for the wealthy, and I'm opposed to spending public money on private and religious schools.

This is a federal responsibility and I don't believe Arizona should spend any money towards a wall.

No, the legislature hasn't done enough. We need to establish clear guidelines and procedures related to sexual harassment among and between legislators and staff, so that people safe reporting harassment.

Homelessness is definitely something that hasn't been addressed. Neighborhoods in my district have seen in an uptick in issues around homelessness because there aren't enough shelters and services for people experiencing homelessness. We also need more services for those being released from prison so that they can get housing and jobs so they don't become homeless and resort back to crime. There are also not adequate pre-release services for those leaving prison to address their mental health issues.

Water is our biggest threat. Like I stated above, If we are going to really prepare for water-shortages, we need all stakeholders at the table to design a proper plan. Water has not been taken seriously by the state government and we need to make this a priority in the upcoming session.