In state Legislative District 4, only a single Democratic candidate will be eliminated in the primary in August.
A three-way race for the two seats in the House of Representatives has two Democrats: Administrative assistant Charlene Fernandez and San Luis council member Jose Suarez will face LD4 Rep. Lisa Otondo in the primary.
Current LD4 Rep. Juan Carlos Escamilla is not seeking another term.
The two Democrats to emerge from the primary will face insurance agent Richard Hopkins, a Republican, in the general election.
The expansive district, which reaches all the way to Yuma, will also have Republican Connie Uribe, a retired surgeon, challenging LD4 Sen. Lynne Pancrazi in the general election.
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Senate
Lynne Pancrazi
Party: Democrat
Age: 60
Employer and position: State senator
Education: Bachelor’s in physical education, Point Loma Nazarene College; master’s in elementary education, Northern Arizona University
Political experience: State senator, former state representative
Top priority: Increase funding for public education, attract quality jobs,improve transportation
Connie Uribe
Party: Republican
Age: 67
Employer and position: Consultant, retired surgeon
Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of Arizona; medical doctorate, University of Arizona
Political experience: Never held elected office, helped with husband’s Superior Court races
Top priority: Ensure legislation neither violates the rights of the electorate nor the sovereignty of the state
House of Representatives
Charlene Fernandez
Party: Democrat
Age: 59
Employer and position: Administrative assistant, Geotechnical Testing Services, a division of Arviso Engineering
Education: Associate degree, Arizona Western College, bachelor’s in elementary education, Northern Arizona University
Political experience: Board member, Yuma Union High School Governing Board
Top priorities: Education and the economy
Lisa Otondo
Age: 53
Employer and position: Current state representative, former public school teacher at Crane Middle School in Yuma, real estate agent at Century 21 Action Group
Education: Master’s in international public administration, bachelor’s in international policy studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies
Political experience: Current state representative
Top priority: Quality public education, economic growth and job creation
Jose Suarez
Party: Democrat
Age: 50
Employer and position: Self- employed, personal financial representative
Education: Some college, University of Baja California
Political experience: City Council member, San Luis
Top priorities: Economic development, education
Richard Hopkins
Party: Republican
Age: 59
Employer and position: Insurance agent, Powers-Leavitt Insurance Agency
Education: Attended Northern Arizona University
Political experience: School board member, Buckeye Elementary School Board
Top priorities: Education funding, economic development, public safety
Lynne Pancrazi
Jose Suarez
Charlene
Fernandez
Richard
Hopkins
Connie Uribe
Lisa Otondo
Joe Ferguson
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