Election 2008: Democrat says she’s running for House Quail Creek woman seeks state office

Since 2005, Andrea Dalessandro, a Democrat precinct and state party committee person and resident of Quail Creek, has considered running for the Legislative District 30 seat.

She has filed the necessary papers with the Secretary of State’s office in Tucson, officially announcing her plans to run.

Two District 30 seats are occupied by Republicans Jonathan Paton and Marian McClure. McClure will be “termed out” this year. Paton has filed exploratory papers for the State Senate, replacing State Senate President Tim Bee, who’s expected to announce Saturday he’s challenging U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., for her congressional seat.

According to the latest filings, Dalessandro’s potential opponents for the State House seat are Frank Antenori of Tucson, Sharon Collins of Sahuarita, Doug Sposito of Sonoita and David Gowan of Sierra Vista. All are Republicans.

To prepare for her first political campaign, Dalessandro took part in a six-month “Emerge” political leadership training program for Democratic women in 2007.

The program teaches women who are newcomers to political office the art of public speaking, fundraising, campaigns, networking and elections.

Dalessandro said three main issues are in the forefront of her decision to run — lack of support for public education, consumer protection issues including putting a stop to identity theft and predatory loans, and the state’s growth and its impact on the environment and water supply.

She also would like to see more support for small businesses and passing a state law that would have personal credit records frozen with credit reporting agencies—at no charge.

“This would help stop identity theft and is now law in 40 states. As it is now, Arizonans have to pay to have their credit records frozen… with open credit records anyone can apply for a credit card in someone else’s name.”

Dalessandro said she’s learned how the legislative system works. “I’ve attended 12 full sessions… I want to bring attention to issues that concern Southern Arizona residents; I feel that Phoenix doesn’t see us and forgets us.

“I’ve held focus groups with Democrats, Independents and Republicans all over the district and I’m overwhelmingly disappointed how things are going in the state with regards to education, the environment and water.”

About the environment, she said, “I’m concerned about maintaining the stewardship of Arizona. I was initially mesmerized by the beauty of the mountains in Scottsdale; now I don’t see that. I don’t want Southern Arizona to look like that.”

Moving from New Jersey to Quail Creek in August 2004, Dalessandro attended Rutgers University and earned a Masters in Business Administration in professional accounting.

A member of Valle Verde Rotary, the League of Women Voters, Supporting Seniors Impact Council of the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona and the Coalition of Water Activist Citizens, she is married to Andrew Dalessandro and has one daughter, who is a neonatal intensive care nurse.