DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR OFFICE
NATIONAL OFFICES
US SENATE
Rep. RUBEN GALLEGO
Ruben Gallego is the son of an immigrant mother from Columbia and an immigrant father from Mexico. He grew up poor in Chicago raised by his mother along with his three sisters. Ruben was deployed to Iraq in 2005 where his company saw some of the hardest fighting of the war. He was elected to the Arizona State House in 2010 and the U.S. House in 2014 where he has served as a voice for veterans and working families. Ruben is married and lives in South Phoenix with his wife Sydney, son Michael, and daughter Isla.
US CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2
JONATHAN NEZ
Born in Tuba City Arizona and raised in Shonto Arizona, Jonathan Nez, is Áshįįhí (Salt People) born for Ta’neeszahnii (Tangle clan). His maternal grandfather’s clan is Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water Clan) and paternal grandfather’s clan is Táchii’nii (Red-Running-Into-The-Water Clan).
At the age of 29, Nez began his career in public service as the Vice President of the Shonto Chapter on the Navajo Nation. Passionate about serving his community, he went on to serve on the Navajo Nation Council and the County Board of Supervisors before eventually being elected Vice President of the Navajo Nation in 2015.
In 2019, he was elected President of the Navajo Nation, and served until 2023. As president, he led the Navajo people through the COVID-19 pandemic, secured funds to construct new health care facilities and homes for veterans, invested in public safety and hired new police officers, and bolstered infrastructure, improving rural roads and bringing clean water and electricity to thousands of previously unserved residents. Devoted to staying accountable to his constituents, Nez visited all 110 Navajo chapter houses, held weekly online town halls, and bi-weekly radio forums to hear from the families he represented.
No stranger to the struggles so many the Second District face, Nez overcame an alcohol addiction as a young man, and has seen firsthand how addiction can hurt whole communities. With the help of his faith and his family, he set his life on a new course and dedicated his career to public service.
Experienced in cultivating relationships with government leaders, Nez is a coalition builder who will bring commonsense problem solving to Washington, putting the needs of rural Arizonans over DC politics.
In Congress, Nez will be committed to reforming government and holding Washington accountable to working Arizonans, creating jobs, cutting high gas and food costs, supporting Arizona veterans, and protecting the right to choose.
Nez lives in Flagstaff with his wife Phefelia and their sons Christopher and Alexander.
STATE OFFICES
CORPORATION COMMISIONER
YAVAPAI COUNTY SUPERVISOR 3RD DISTRICT
DONNA MICHAELS
Donna Michaels – has lived in the Verde Valley almost three decades and cherishes the rural area. As our incumbent County Supervisor, she is a community engaged leader who has served in government, education, community and cultural initiatives, private industry, development and non-profits nationally and internationally. Donna is a published author on social policy, public administration and capital funds development. Donna has several affiliations which are listed on her website. Her passion for horses has led to involvement, support, and pro bono consultation for a number of equine organizations and ventures.
NIKKI CHECK
Nikki Check is a Yavapai County native, born and raised in Prescott and Chino Valley. She has spent the last 15 years in the Verde Valley. Nikki was the Founding Director of the Southwest Wine Center at Yavapai College, served for three years as Mayor of Jerome, was a candidate in the 2016 State Senate race. She has served on local volunteer boards such as the Verde Valley Wine Consortium, the Verde River Basin Partnership, and the Verde Valley Forum for Public Affairs. She currently is a freelance contractor for nonprofit campaigns and resides in Jerome with her 8-year-old son Ryan.
LEGISLATIVE OFFICES
ARIZONA SENATE
MIKE FOGEL
ARIZONA HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES
JAY RUBY
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCIA SMITH
SEDONA LOCAL OFFICES
MAYOR
SCOTT JABLOW
Scott Jablow has served as a Sedona City Councilor since 2014 and is currently Mayor. He holds a criminal justice degree and worked for the Port Authority of New York and NJ for over 30 years. He was a police officer and later Senior Police Accident investigator. He also served in the Police Emergency Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Unit.
Scott appreciates all of his many accomplishments throughout his time in Sedona but still cherishes the 9/11 Memorial built in front of Fire District Station #6. Scott was able to negotiate the donation to the City of a 3000 lb. girder from his old employer, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Scott, while working with the Fire Chief and a 5-person committee was the point person who raised the funds needed to design and build this unique treasure for Sedona all, without a single tax dollar.
Kathy Kinsella has owned her home in Sedona since 2010. She was elected to the City Council after serving three years on the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission. Kathy has over thirty years of experience in state and local government in Arizona and New York. She is Past President of the League of Women Voters Verde Valley and volunteers with numerous local organizations.
Holli Ploogserves as Sedona’s Vice Mayor. She is a retired attorney who has lived in Sedona since 2013. Before being elected to the City Council, Holli spent five years on the City’s Budget workgroup and on its Fiscal Sustainability Workgroup. She is Past President of the Sedona Arts Center and Past President of the Rotary Club of Sedona.
DEREK PFAFF
Derek Pfaff has lived in Sedona with his wife and two children since 2016. Born and raised in Phoenix, he attended college and law school at the University of Arizona. For the past 26 years, he has practiced commercial real estate law. Derek served on the Sedona Historic Preservation Commission from 2016 to 2022. He was involved in the successful 2018 campaign to save the West Sedona School and is a fervent supporter of public education.
Derek is seeking a seat on the Council so that he can apply his voice, ideas, personal experience, and professional expertise to help Sedona live up to its potential. He wants to work with the Council to mitigate traffic problems, expand mass transit, tackle the workforce housing shortage, increase recreational opportunities for locals, and otherwise improve the lives of all Sedona residents.