We are continuing to spotlight some amazing #PublicSchoolProud candidates running for the state legislature and school boards across the state! 

Find all of our endorsed legislative and school board candidates, as well as Bond and Override information, at: sosarizona.org/vote4publiced/

We’re nearing the end of our tour of battleground legislative districts, but we aren’t done yet! It’s time to take the Piestewa Freeway through the Phoenix Mountains Preserve to visit Legislative District 4, made up of Desert Ridge, North Phoenix, Old Town Scottsdale, Arcadia, and the entire town of Paradise Valley. Legislative District 4, the home of Barry Goldwater, is now one of the most competitive areas in the entire state and has three fantastic #PublicSchoolProud candidates — Sen. Christine Marsh, Kelli Butler, and Karen Gresham — running to protect two vulnerable seats and flip a third!

Karen Gresham is a 3rd-generation Arizonan who attended public schools, graduated from ASU, and has deep roots in our state. After working as a CPA at Deloitte and Phelps Dodge, Karen retired from accounting to raise her three sons. Gresham is a longtime advocate for public education and currently serves as President of the Madison Elementary Governing Board. Having lost her mother to leukemia, Karen finds purpose in volunteering for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, where she has raised over $100,000. 

Kelli Butler has lived and raised her family in LD4, where she owns a family dental practice with her husband, Ben. Through her experiences with their neighborhood public schools, Kelli became engaged in state politics as an advocate for students and teachers and to advocate for affordable healthcare, reproductive rights, and strengthening the state’s economy. Butler served three terms in the State House from 2016 to 2022 and was the ranking member of the Health and Human Services and Appropriations Committees. She also serves as a governing board member for the Maricopa County Community College District.

Senator Christine Marsh is a proud Phoenician, a graduate of Arizona public schools, and the incumbent State Senator for LD4. She raised her sons and foster children in LD4 and was a classroom teacher for 32 years. In 2016, she was named Arizona’s Teacher of the Year. Through that experience, Christine traversed Arizona and saw firsthand the issues public schools face. Senator Marsh is motivated by the need for balance in the legislature because one-party rule has stifled Arizona and harmed vulnerable populations.

  
The Scottsdale Unified School District serves most of Scottsdale and the entire town of Paradise Valley (which is not, in fact, served by PVUSD!). This district has been the center of culture wars over the last 4 years, from thralls of anti-mask and anti-“CRT” protestors to personal attacks and lawsuits from Supt. Horne. Thankfully, the district has maintained a strong pro-public school majority that has protected students from book bans and other bad policies — but two extremists were elected to the board in 2022, and several more threaten to take over this year. Mike Sharkey, Donna Lewis, and Matthew Pittinsky are running to ensure the board continues to advocate for teachers and students instead of engaging in endless culture war issues. 

Mike Sharkey is a 24-year Scottsdale resident with strong ties to Scottsdale Schools. His twins spent their entire K-12 careers in SUSD (Chaparral ’20), his wife Jessica is a proud Arcadia alum, and Mike has mentored the Chaparral High School Robotics team since 2016. Professionally, Mike has spent most of his career in educational technology. Sharkey founded and sold a student success analytics software company and is currently ASU’s Executive Director of Data & Analysis.  

Donna Lewis is a professor at NAU and the proud mother of three grown sons. She has over 40 years of experience in education as a teacher, a principal, and a superintendent. Dr. Lewis believes in creative, excellent learning opportunities for all children, the advocacy of parents as partners, and fiscal efficiencies within the school district. Lewis is a champion for public schools and sees Scottsdale Unified School District as the district of choice.

Matthew Pittinsky is a proud Scottsdale Unified School District parent with two children still in school. He believes in the importance of strong neighborhood schools for families, the business community, and taxpayers alike. Matt has taught at ASU as an assistant professor and has experience researching education topics. He is also an entrepreneur who has built two global technology companies (Blackboard and Parchment), one based in Scottsdale. Pittinsky seeks to bring his experience as an entrepreneur to SUSD, from planning to operational excellence.

If you live in North Phoenix, Arcadia, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, or the surrounding area, please support these amazing #PublicSchoolProud candidates this November. In the meantime, help us spread the word — click on any of the upcoming events below to register now!

• Knock Doors in LD 4 – Sat, Oct 5, 8:45am – 11am
• Get Out the Vote for LD 4 Calls – Weds Oct 9th, 5:30 – 7:30 pm. 
• Knock Doors in LD 4 – Sat, Oct 12, 8:45am – 11am
• Weekly Phonebanks –  During the month of October, we will make calls into LD4 every Wednesday! Sign up for our upcoming phonebanks here. 
• Click here for more volunteer opportunities in LD4!
• Interested in making calls to support these candidates on your own time?
  Contact tyler@sosarizona.org to get started!