Kenneth R Bowers Jr.
State Senator - District 4
Republican
http://www.VoteKenBowers.com
married, retired, US Navy veteran
Hello neighbors! I am a registered Arizona attorney and a 20 year veteran as an officer of the Arizona Department of Corrections where I came to believe our prison system should not imprison persons convicted of purely fiscal offenses. Such offenders should pay restitution to their victims and a fine to the State, but never go to a prison. I do not solicit or accept financial contributions and I do all the tasks of campaigning myself. I am a conservative. I support President Trump, the right to life, and the right to bear arms. I am asking for your vote. GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Christine Marsh
State Senator - District 4
Democratic
https://www.christineportermarsh.com/
I'm a proud Phoenician, graduate of Arizona public schools, and State Senator. I raised my sons and foster children in LD4, and I'm in my fourth decade teaching. In 2016, I was Arizona's Teacher of the Year. Through that experience, I traversed Arizona and saw firsthand the issues public schools face. What motivates me is the need for more balance in the legislature. One-party rule has stifled Arizona and harmed vulnerable populations. I've seen great bills fail without a hearing and radical legislation sail through our legislature. We need a new majority so better ideas can get a fair shot.
I was first elected to the State Senate in 2020; I ran because I knew I could be a voice for Arizona's public-school students, teachers, and staff. As an English teacher with as many as 44 students in a class, I understood what it meant to be underfunded and understaffed-and I still do. I still teach part-time, and that is incredibly important to my work at the Capitol. Gimmicks like one-time bonuses or grant-funded counselors are just that: gimmicks; and they won't solve our teacher shortage, nor reduce class sizes. I have also worked to mitigate the loss of life due to Arizona's drug crisis-but we still have so far to go both there and on many other issues. That is why I am running for a third term. While I currently serve on the Transportation and Education Committees, I have a record of supporting reproductive rights, gun safety, voter protection, education, infrastructure, clean air, and safe water. I have one of the senate's most moderate voting records and the resolve to work with anyone with good ideas to solve the many challenges we face.
Carine Werner
State Senator - District 4
Republican
https://wernerforaz.com/
Carine Werner is an immigrant, mom of three, small business owner, and Scottsdale Unified School Board Member running for State Senate to safeguard the American Dream for our next generation and ensure they have the opportunities previous generations had to create a successful life here in Arizona. Carine Werner is a champion for quality education and is ready to take her proven, common-sense leadership to the State Legislature. Carine Werner's solution-driven agenda will focus on reducing crime, securing the border, fostering economic prosperity, and creating a better quality of life for all Arizonans.
Today, Arizona faces a flailing economy with out-of-control prices, a broken border, rising crime, homelessness, and challenges within our education system. Many of us worry that our children and grandchildren won't have the chance to enjoy the same opportunities and lifestyle that we have. Carine Werner's proven common-sense leadership will address the problems we face, and help us protect the community we love, together. In the State Senate, Carine Werner will work to improve our education system by paying teachers more, empowering parents and investing in our future. Carine Werner will promote legislation that fosters safe communities by providing law enforcement with the tools they need, securing the border, and addressing homelessness with compassion and accountability. Additionally, Carine Werner will work to create a low-tax, business-friendly economic environment that will generate job growth, improve cost of living and reduce the burden on families and young adults, allowing them to have a successful life in Arizona. Learn more here: www.wernerforaz.com
Kelli Butler
State Representative - District 4
Democratic
https://www.kelliforaz.com
Kelli Butler grew up in Arizona, within the boundaries of LD4. She served three terms in the State House, from 2017-2022. She was the ranking member on both Health and Human Services and Appropriations, and also served on Government and Elections, Commerce, and Banking and Insurance committees. Kelli and her husband, Ben, are small business owners of Butler Family Dental and the parents of two adult sons. Through her experiences with their neighborhood public schools, Kelli became engaged in state politics as an advocate for students and teachers, affordable healthcare, reproductive rights, and strengthening the state's economy.
I grew up in Arizona, within the boundaries of LD4. My husband, Ben, and I are small business owners and parents of two adult sons. I previously served in the State House from 2017-2022. A valuable experience came from my early work on the Commerce Committee-my colleagues and I came to meetings prepared to discuss the merits of each bill. Instead, we were told we asked too many questions and quickly learned that minority members' bills are rarely allowed to move through the legislative process. That needs to change. I am running again to be part of that change. We know public schools are underfunded, but universal vouchers send tax dollars to private schools with no accountability; 95% of us vote by mail yet efforts continue to restrict early voting; most of us support expanding access to quality, affordable healthcare, yet attacks on women's reproductive rights seem to be the priority. With a new majority, those priorities will change. Instead of divisive rhetoric, let's focus on Arizona's future. We must strengthen our public schools-Pre-K through higher ed-to improve our workforce and economy, address complex public safety and public health issues, and protect our environment and natural resources.
Pamela Carter
State Representative - District 4
Republican
https://pamelacarter.com/
Pamela Carter is a 4th generation native Arizonan who grew up in this community. She is a strong advocate for people, relationships, and families. Her volunteer work includes serving on the Board of Directors for Help4Kidz, a non-profit that works with at-risk youth and families. With a master's degree in Communications and Biblical Studies, Pamela's past business experience includes ownership and management of a sports medicine and training facility (one of the largest in the nation) utilized by many - including professional athletes, national teams and celebrities. Pamela will bring her strong business acumen and problem solving to the Legislature.
Partisan political games are damaging our state - I'm running to stop them. I will keep my word, work across the aisle to champion solutions when I can, and not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. I'll focus on issues you tell me matter most: Border security, public safety, fighting inflation and high prices, supporting school choice and higher pay for teachers, securing our elections so every voter, regardless of party, can trust the results, and protecting our long-term water future. I'm a fourth-generation Arizonan, my great-grandfather immigrated legally from Mexico to work in the copper mines in the Globe area. My father was in the Air Force and became a real estate broker and business owner here in Phoenix, and I was a business owner of the largest sports medicine and weight training facilities in the nation, training a variety of NFL athletes, collegiate football players, celebrities and more. From those deep roots come my Arizona values and my lifelong commitment to our great state. If you want quality schools, safe neighborhoods, and a strong economy, I ask for one of your two votes for State Representative. Thank you!
Karen Gresham
State Representative - District 4
Democratic
https://www.karenforaz.com
I'm a public school parent and Phoenix native. I attended Arizona public schools and graduated Summa Cum Laude from ASU. After working as a CPA auditing corporations, nonprofits, and utilities, I retired from accounting to raise my three sons. Since then, I've volunteered in the classroom, on PTO boards, for pro-public education candidates, and for many charitable organizations. I now serve as the Governing Board President for the Madison Elementary School Board. I was also second runner-up for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Woman of the Year in 2019, and later served as the event chair and on the leadership team.
When I first started serving on my local PTO and saw their budget, I saw that almost all our fundraising went to making sure our school had an aide. Questions started forming: Why are our schools underfunded enough that the community has to come together just so our school can have a teachers' aide? What happens in districts where communities may not have the money to support that? Why are our kids-and our teachers-not treated as the priority they should be by our state? I'm running to make sure that our kids are a priority: so that their schools are funded robustly and equitably, they have access to the healthcare they need, and they live in safe communities. It's time for a new legislative majority with new priorities, and I hope I can count on your vote to build that new majority.
Matt Gress
State Representative - District 4
Republican
https://www.mattgress.com/
Matt Gress, representing Arizona's District 4, champions common-sense principles: a secure border, smaller government, and individual liberty. Matt knows the value of hard work. He was raised by a single mom, worked his way through college driving school buses, and became the first in his family to graduate. Formerly a high school English teacher in a low-income area, he served on the Madison Elementary School District Board, fighting for open schools during COVID-19 and parental educational choice. Before being in the Arizona House, Matt served as the state's budget director and helped author the largest tax cut in Arizona history.
Matt Gress currently represents District 4 in the Arizona House of Representatives. He believes in common sense principles like a secure border, small government, balanced budgets, and individual liberty. As our state representative, Matt has worked relentlessly to address pressing issues: fighting the Biden administration's open border politics, reducing the cost of living, increasing teacher pay, and tackling crime and homelessness. He is endorsed by police officers, firefighters, and local business organizations. Like many, Matt came here from somewhere else - small town Oklahoma. The youngest of four, he was raised by a single mom in a single-wide trailer. Matt learned the value of hard work, putting himself through college driving school buses. He was the first in his family to earn a degree. After graduating, Matt became a high school English teacher. From 2017-2021, Matt was elected as a Governing Board Member in the Madison Elementary School District. Matt fought to keep schools open during COVID-19 and supported educational freedom for parents to choose the best learning options for their kids. Before his time in the Arizona House, Matt served as the state's chief budget director and helped author the largest tax cut in Arizona history.