(D) Latina Candidate Amanda Aguirre soars as Raul Grijalva stumbles in debate
by Dee Dee Garcia Blase on Aug. 18, 2012, under 2012 Arizona Elections, female-led political movement, Hispanic Latino Vote, Independent voter centrist moderate swing vote, independent voter open primary election, Women VotersFor those of you who may not know, the Tequila Party is a woman-led political grassroots movement, and we support women who have a strong record of helping women via breast cancer patients and women who have been victims in domestic violence abuse incidents. Amanda has helped so many breast cancer patients and began a cafe to teach skills and empowerment of women who have been abused.
The Democrat candidates of Arizona’s District 3 participated in an Arizona Public Media Forum that aired on PBS Monday August 13, 2012. To watch the debate online, click here.
State Senator Amanda Aguirre came out on top, having won the Democratic Primary Forum with her firm answers, strong convictions and bold vision for Arizona’s Congressional District 3. Representative Raul Grijalva, on the other hand, showed once more that he puts his own interests above those of the Arizona people, and ignored Aguirre’s challenge to answer for his 400-plus missed votes in Congress.
TUCSON, AZ–In a debate broadcast by the Arizona Public Media Monday night, former State Senator Amanda Aguirre came out on top, having won the Democratic Primary Forum with her firm answers, strong convictions and bold vision for Arizona’s Congressional District 3. Representative Raul Grijalva, on the other hand, showed once more that he puts his own interests above those of the Arizona people, and ignored Aguirre’s challenge to answer for his 400-plus missed votes in Congress.
Of the three candidates, Sen. Aguirre’s experience and response made her the clear frontrunner for dealing with border security in Congress. Aguirre said, “I served for eight years on the Homeland Security Advisory Council … and one of the issues that we addressed very heavily [was] how to protect the border [and] make sure that we give the resources needed to our law enforcement.”
This stands in stark contrast to Rep. Grijalva who ignored the entire situation of Fast and Furious, despite the fact that it happened in his own district. When Sen. Aguirre confronted Rep. Grijalva for refusing to represent his constituency when he walked off the floor during a crucial vote dealing with the Fast and Furious gun-walking scandal, Grijalva attempted to defend his actions by saying “it was all political.”
During the debate, Grijalva voiced his opposition to the Second Amendment by advocating for limitations on Americans’ right to bear arms, and downplayed the role mental health plays in gun violence. Grijalva also showed his lack of understanding of the business world and medical industry by failing to address the adverse effects federal mandates have on health care practiced in southern Arizona.
Aguirre, on the other hand, is highly experienced in dealing with healthcare issues having spent more than 35 years in the healthcare industry. She is willing and able to fight for mental health funding when elected to Congress: “We can’t deny it anymore that we have a problem on our hands and certainly, when I’m elected, I will make sure that the much-needed funding for health agencies are in place to address this issue [of mental health] nationwide.”
Currently, the unemployment rate in southern Arizona is among the highest in the nation. In Yuma alone, the number sits at 29 percent. “This has happened for many years. We need to turn it around,” Aguirre said during the debate. “Like many other Americans, we’re frustrated with what’s going on, not getting solutions, not moving the country forward. That’s the reason I’m running for Congress in District 3.”
Meanwhile, Grijalva said he is seeking re-election because he has shown “consistency” throughout his entire political career. “I’m not tired of the job, I think the job is good, I enjoy it,” he said.
“It wouldn’t surprise me that Representative Grijalva has yet to tire of his job, because he’s not doing it,” Aguirre said after the debate. “With 400 missed votes, indeed he has shown consistency: He consistently runs away when it comes time to make a critical decision. Arizona needs someone who will represent our state at all times; someone who can get the job done instead of worrying about keeping his own.”
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Media Contact:
Lucy Aguirre
Campaign Manager
