Junelle Cavero

Criminal Justice / Public Safety The legislature should strictly regulate the role of School Resource Officers (SROs). SROs were created to protect students from internal or external threats. SRO’s should never be used to enforce school discipline, provide counseling, and/or be a substitute for trained professional staff. Civil Rights I am committed to combating voter suppression efforts and advocating for policies that enhance accessibility to voting, including preserving Vote By Mail and advocating for Same Day Registration on Election Day with proper proof of residency and citizenship. These measures will uphold election integrity while ensuring all Arizonans can exercise their right to vote. Wages / Job Benefits Increased salaries, benefits, and access to a union for all childcare workers, who have been leaving the field at higher rates since the COVID-19 pandemic. Education Guaranteed, affordable childcare for all families, capped at no more than 7% of household income. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Closing private prisons. Education As a mother of two daughters in primary school, I advocate for legislative action to halt the recurring assaults on public education. We urgently need increased funding for daily maintenance, higher teacher and staff salaries, and enhanced capital funding to ensure every student has access to essential resources like textbooks and technology. With the surge in mental health challenges exacerbated by the pandemic, it's imperative to boost education revenue. I wholeheartedly endorse the idea of tuition-free community college for all Arizona residents and support the continuation of initiatives like the Arizona Teachers Academy to alleviate the financial burden on aspiring educators. Immigration A stronger, smarter approach focuses on strategies that actually make communities safer: coordinated drug interdiction efforts, re-entry services that reduce recidivism, mental health and substance use treatment, victim support, and community-based policing that builds relationships rather than fear. Public safety should protect people, support stability, and strengthen neighborhoods. We can stop drugs without stopping families, and we can fight crime without becoming ICE—because real safety means ensuring everyone can seek help, report harm, and live without fear. Abortion / Contraception Strongly oppose “fake” health centers. Comprehensive sex education that is age-appropriate, medically accurate, culturally appropriate, inclusive, and evidence-based. Access to and coverage of comprehensive and holistic care throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. Support proposals to address rising maternal mortality and morbidity, including long standing health inequities that disproportionately harm Black and Native American communities. Environment / Energy Furthermore, I am dedicated to fostering a green economy by promoting renewable energy initiatives, incentivizing sustainable practices in industries, and advocating for environmentally friendly policies at all levels of government. Together, we can build a greener, more resilient Arizona for future generations. Abortion / Contraception Support statutory and constitutional protections for reproductive freedom, including coverage of abortion services for those who depend on the government for their healthcare or coverage-including but not limited to Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries, US service members and veterans. Essential to prioritize policies that promote reproductive health equity, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographic location, can access the care they need. Immigration Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) practices in Arizona have long undermined the principles of justice, community safety, and human dignity. The widespread use of detention centers, deportation raids, and aggressive enforcement tactics disproportionately targets Latino and immigrant communities, leaving families separated and individuals living in constant fear. These practices not only exacerbate social inequities but also erode trust in local law enforcement, as many immigrants are discouraged from reporting crimes or cooperating with authorities due to fear of detention. Arizona’s reliance on punitive immigration enforcement rather than community-based solutions perpetuates cycles of trauma and marginalization, contradicting our state’s responsibility to protect all residents regardless of documentation status. Education With over 90% of Phoenix students enrolled in public schools, it's crucial to allocate funds effectively to support students, teachers, and schools. Collaboration with state and local education authorities is essential to safely maintain open schools. Immigration A progressive approach demands that Arizona prioritize humane and equitable alternatives to ICE’s current enforcement regime. Investments should focus on providing legal support, access to healthcare, education, and pathways to citizenship, rather than funding detention and deportation. Community-led initiatives that strengthen social cohesion and protect vulnerable populations are proven to enhance safety without criminalizing immigrant communities. Arizona must reject policies that allow ICE to operate with impunity, and instead embrace a model that recognizes the inherent dignity of every human being, ensuring that families remain together and that all residents can live free from the fear of deportation. Environment / Energy Arizona's clean air and sustainable water crises demand urgent attention at the district, state, and national levels. As your representative, I pledge to champion policies that promote water sustainability and effective groundwater management. This includes advocating for increased investment in water conservation technologies, supporting legislation to mitigate pollution, and collaborating with stakeholders to develop comprehensive water management strategies. Education Without transparency, cost controls, or demonstrated educational outcomes, the program resembles a taxpayer-funded scam—one that shifts public money into private hands while leaving Arizona’s public schools and the state budget to absorb the consequences. Wages / Job Benefits As a product of a union-raised family, I understand the critical need for quality, well-paying jobs that offer upward mobility for Arizonans. I will advocate for better healthcare, safe working conditions, union development, and the right to organize. To prepare Arizona's workforce for today's economy, we must establish competitive pay structures that keep pace with inflation. We need to attract companies that offer strong benefits and provide more labor training programs for students and young professionals. Economy We must create an economy where one job is enough to support a family. I am committed to raising wages for working families, expanding grants and tax incentives for small businesses, increasing access to well-paying jobs in our district, strengthening protections against workplace discrimination and harassment, making housing more affordable, advancing rent control policies, and boosting funding for homelessness prevention. Healthcare Just as I fought for every American veteran to have access to healthcare worldwide, I will continue the fight for every Arizonan to have quality, accessible and affordable health care. I will work to protect reproductive rights, children's health care, and expand funding and access for behavioral and mental health. Arizonan families should have healthcare coverage despite legal or financial barriers. Civil Rights As an unwavering champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion, I am committed to advocating for legislation that advances equal treatment for all individuals, regardless of their ethnicity, creed, color, or orientation. My agenda includes a thorough examination and, where necessary, the repeal of discriminatory statutes to safeguard our cherished civil rights, which have been tirelessly fought for. It is imperative that we confront the longstanding systemic injustices faced by people of color, including Latinos, Asian Americans, Black, and Indigenous Americans, within the state of Arizona. Housing As a former director of the Arizona Fair Housing Center, I understand the urgent need to make housing more affordable. Rising home prices and rent—driven by corporate price fixing, greed, increased land and labor costs, supply chain disruptions, and delays in zoning approvals for apartments and affordable housing—demand coordinated action from both the public and private sectors. At the same time, housing discrimination in group homes is becoming more prevalent. Arizona must move quickly to invest in affordable housing options for working families to confront these challenges head-on.