Gillian Driscoll
Earlier in 2025, a number of concerned parents met together to address their concerns about the budget the Arizona Legislature was proposing for this session. Planned cuts to funds for the disabled troubled them deeply. Most had disabled children, some of them severely, who rely on these funds for their everyday needs and care. For months legislators had ignored their pleas and concern. Out of this R.O.A.R. was created to push for the recall of the elected officials who, instead of supporting the needs and wishes of their constituents, were forcing through legislation that would hurt the most vulnerable among them. The group’s website, roar4az.com, exposes those legislators and gives information about their voting record and why their support of these damaging proposals matter. These parents are not organizing as partisan voters, they come from both sides of the political spectrum to fight for their families in a show of solidarity and community.
Earlier this spring, one of the leaders of R.O.A.R., Jamie Kelley, visited the PebbleCreek Democratic Club’s monthly meeting to offer information about the organization and its aims. Jamie is the mother of a severely disabled child, Evelyn, who is 12 years old and requires around-the-clock care. The state caregiver program through the Developmental Disabilities Division that enables parents to care for their children at home and prevents their children from being institutionalized is under threat of cancellation in the budget. Parents As Paid Caregivers started during Covid when outside caregivers could not visit. This program pays parents $16 to $20 an hour toward their caregiving role and keeps children out of institutions. Jamie has taken advantage of these programs and they have helped her, Evelyn, and the rest of her family immensely.
Jamie is leading the charge to recall state Representatives Steve Montenegro from LD29, Michael Carbone from LD25, Matt Gress from District 4, and David Livingston from District 28 who are all supporting the elimination of funds for these programs. Jamie voted for Livingston but believes he is not acting in the interests of his constituents. R.O.A.R. has been organizing petition signings in several legislative districts (LDs) toward their goal of recalling these four representatives who are pushing to eliminate these life-saving programs. Constituents can only sign petitions against the representative from their own LD, in our case, Steve Montenegro.
The PebbleCreek Democratic Club is happy to pass on information about R.O.A.R. to a wider public and concerned citizens, and will be monitoring the progress of its efforts.