Voters will have plenty of candidates to choose from in Legislative District 8 races.
A total of nine candidates are running for a seat in the statehouse.
Incumbent state Sen. Barbara McGuire, a Democrat, will face in November a challenge from one of three Republicans vying for the chance to move beyond the August primary.īģŋ
Retired recruiter Irene Littleton, retiree Harold VanGilder and Alan Pease will fight for votes in the primary to challenge McGuire.īģŋ
In the LD 8 House race, state Reps. T.J. Shope and Frank Pratt will be part of a four-way Republican primary, challenged by former chef Wayne Bachmann and the national director of the Patriot Action Network, Darla Dawald.īģŋ
The two Republicans with most votes coming out of the primary will face Democrat Carmen Casillas in the November primary.īģŋ
The district primarily encompasses a portion of Pinal and Gila counties.
Barbara McGuire
Party: Democrat
Age: 59
Employer and position: state senator; retired, Ray Unified School District.
Education: high school graduate, Ray Unified School District. Some community college. Multiple business certifications.
Political experience: state senator, former state representative.
Top priorities: Education, jobs and public safety.
Irene Littleton
Party: Republican
Age: 68
Employer and position: retired HR/recruiter, Intel Corp.
Education: none listed.
Political experience: Never held elected office; involved in party politics.
Top priority: education, taxation and medical assistance.
Harold VanGilder
Party: Republican
Age: 74
Employer and position: retired government employee.
Education: bachelorâs degree in psychology, Central Oklahoma University
Political experience: former Sierra Vista city councilman.
Top priority: jobs.
Alan Pease
Party: Republican
(Did not respond to survey.)
HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
Frank Pratt
Party: Republican
Age: 71
Employer and position: small-business owner.
Education: high school diploma, some college.
Political experience: state representative six years, precinct committeeman
Top priorities: Bring jobs to rural Arizona, address rural issues with small counties, work with the mining community, plan for future water needs.
T.J. Shope
Party: Republican
Age: 28
Employer and position: state representative; Shopeâs IGA, manager
Education: bachelorâs degree in political science, Arizona State University; associateâs degree, Central Arizona College.
Political experience: state representative, involved in party politics
Top priority: Providing an advantageous playing field for small business and other job creators to flourish in rural Arizona.
Wayne Bachman
Party: Republican
Age: 55
Employer and position: retired chef.
Education: several culinary certifications.
Political experience: Never held elected office, involved in party politics, helped to draft legislation in Wisconsin.
Top priority: Opposed to the expansion of Medicaid, wants to build alternative to Common Core.
Darla Dewald
Party: Republican
Age: 50
Employer and position: national director, Patriot Action Network.
Education: diploma, Millington High School.
Political experience: Never held elected office.
Top priority: health care, education, school choice.
Carmen Casillas
Party: Democrat
Age: 59
Employer and position: caregiver at Arion Care Solutions, former executive director of a social services agency, co-founder of the Globe Boys & Girls Club.
Education: three years of college in criminal justice at Arizona community colleges.
Political experience: City Council member in Globe for six years, former staff member for U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, campaign staff member for many local candidates.
Top priorities: top-quality education, public safety, jobs, immigration reform with dignity and secure borders.
