Today Diane Lenz announced her candidacy for Coconino County Supervisor, District 1. Current Supervisor, Carl Taylor is retiring. District 1 includes Flagstaff downtown (north of Rt. 66) and neighborhoods west and northwest of Flagstaff, (e.g., Boulder Point, Equestrian Estates, Cheshire, Baderville), Tusayan, Fredonia, Kaibab Estates West and Supai.
A resident of Coconino County since 1980, Ms. Lenz and her family lived for many years in the rural County outside of Flagstaff. They moved to their present home, in the Coconino Estates neighborhood of Flagstaff, in 2002. Their son is a student at ASU.
Ms. Lenz has worked at NAU’s Institute for Human Development (NAU/IHD) since 1984 developing and managing grants that promote opportunity for people with disabilities in all aspects of family and community life (http://www4.nau.edu/ihd/). She relates her success at NAU to her potential as County Supervisor in terms of her commitment to building relationships, setting goals, and accomplishing them, “I will listen to all perspectives and build the partnerships necessary to work on tough issues like:
- Reduced County revenue due to state budget decisions and real estate market declines;
- Decisions about County funding priorities for roads, the judicial system, health care, education and emergency services;
- Support for citizens affected by the Schultz fire and flood.”
In 2000-2001 Ms. Lenz served as a Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation (http://www.jpkf.org/) fellow
for the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee where she learned the mechanics of legislative process, tracked federal bills and issues, did policy research, and conducted constituent meetings.
On the impact of the fellowship on her life she says, “Since my return to Arizona in 2001, I have urged family, friends and colleagues to get involved in our democracy in whatever way their lives allow. Our democracy is not a democracy if we don’t participate!” Ms. Lenz serves on the Coconino County Parks and Recreation Commission, the Board of Directors for the Friends of Coconino County Parks
(http://friendsofcocoparks.org/) and is active in Coconino County Democratic Party (http://ccdem.org/).
She cites her experience in Washington DC as preparing her to advocate, as County Supervisor, for funding from the state legislature and Congress to:
- Ensure that Coconino County receives state and federal dollars needed to support education, health, roads, libraries, the County judicial system, and much more;
- Pass legislation that supports innovations like the Coconino County Parks and Open Space Program;
- Respond to local disasters like the Schultz fire and flood.
Ms. Lenz’s vision for Coconino County is, “a community where our citizens count on their local government to do everything in its power to:
- Set policies and build partnerships that result in good jobs and a healthy economy;
- Provide quality education and training;
- Ensure access to affordable health care; and
- Plan thoughtfully for growth that preserves the culture and environment that make northern Arizona the special place that I have been privileged to call home for more than 30 years.”
For more information visit the campaign web site:
