Left to right: PC Democratic Club Chair Vicki Barber, Charlene Fernandez, Club Vice Chair Jim Sheard (photo by Gillian Driscoll)
Gillian Driscoll
The PebbleCreek Democratic Club welcomed Charlene Fernandez, Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, to their November meeting. Ms. Fernandez has an extensive political background and brings much experience to the Party. She served in the Arizona House from 2014 to 2021 and was the Democratic Leader from 2019 until 2021 when she left to work at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Prior to serving in the Arizona House, Ms. Fernandez worked as Constituent Services Coordinator in west CD2 where she spearheaded the drive to bring a Veteran’s Administration clinic to Yuma County, saving veterans a long drive to Phoenix. Charlene also served Governor Janet Napolitano as a liaison for the Arizona Department of Environment Quality in Yuma County and was elected First Vice Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party from 2008 to 2009.
Ms. Fernandez realized while in the Arizona House that there was a disconnect between the Legislature and Arizonans. She pioneered travel around the state to meet people, assess their needs and learn the specific requirements of their location. This project raised the number of House Democrats from 23 to 29. After joining the USDA she asked the Biden administration to get clean water to those parts of the state, in particular the reservations that had none. She also spearheaded getting more housing built to accommodate those in need.
She emphasized that the Democrats need only two more Representatives in the AZ House to gain a working majority. She also reported that her visits to universities have found them full of enthusiastic young Democrats who care about current issues. She requested that we support the state candidates and use the RTS (Request to Speak) system, to let our opinions be known. She encouraged members to keep talking the truth to combat misinformation.
Prior to Ms. Fernandez’ talk, two Arizona Democratic Candidates spoke briefly. Eric Stafford is running for a second time for the Arizona Senate, having lost the first time around. He is determined to run a comprehensive campaign this time and reach as many voters as possible. Christine Scianna is running for the Arizona House. She is an Arizona native who taught science to junior high students while raising four children as a single parent. She has a non-verbal, autistic daughter and left teaching to be her full time caretaker.
Dani Sterbinsky also addressed the club. She is running for Congress in CD9 hoping to unseat Paul Gosar. Dani is a navy vet with a master’s in Industrial Psychology who helps organizations to function more effectively. She is committed to finding long term solutions to current issues and in bringing people together. She believes our governing bodies have forgotten how to function.
The PebbleCreek Democratic Club meets on the first Wednesday of the month at the Tuscany Falls Ballroom. Social hour begins at 6 p.m. and the meeting commences at 6:45 p.m. The meetings are open and all are welcome. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, Jan. 7.