Twitter

Ballotpedia, Michele Pena

As of July 3, 2024, Michele Pena’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Michele Pena currently serves as a state representative in State Legislative District 23. She was elected to this position in 2022 and is serving her first term. 

Candidate website

Believes the decline of the timber industry has led to significant job losses and increased reliance on imported softwood lumber. Supports revitalizing the timber sector to boost employment and reduce imports.

Believes the decline of the timber industry has led to significant job losses and increased reliance on imported softwood lumber. 

Believes foreign land grabbing is a growing threat as American farmers age and more U.S. farmland changes hands.

Believes "foreign land grabbing" is a growing threat. 

Believes increased housing prices and historic inflation have made life less affordable for citizens in the western United States.

Believes "increased housing prices...[and] historic inflation...has made life less affordable..." for citizens in the western region of the U.S. 

Supports legislation reducing housing and food prices in the future.

Supports providing assistance to rural populations.

- Promises to be financially responsible.
- Believes the decline of the timber industry has led to significant job losses and increased reliance on imported softwood lumber. 
- Believes "foreign land grabbing" is a growing threat. 
- Believes "increased housing prices...[and] historic inflation...has made life less affordable..." for citizens in the western region of the U.S. 
- Supports legislation reducing housing and food prices in the future.
- Supports providing assistance to rural populations.
- Supports protecting Arizona farmers.

Economy

Believes police dogs are "valuable members of our police force" and deserve high-quality care.

Voted in support of SB 1068, which provides care for police dogs. 

Supports HB2651 to address the missing foster children crisis and combat child trafficking in Arizona.

Supports HB 2651, which aims to help the "missing foster children crisis in Arizona..." and address child trafficking. 

- Voted in support of SB 1068, which provides care for police dogs. 
- Supports HB 2651, which aims to help the "missing foster children crisis in Arizona..." and address child trafficking. 

Public Safety

Believes in enhancing transparency and affordability in healthcare. Supports accessible health insurance and opposes exploitation by insurance companies and hospitals.

Supports policies aimed to increase transparent and affordable healthcare. 

- Supports policies aimed to increase transparent and affordable healthcare. 
- Supports accessible health insurance.

Healthcare

Believes transparency and open communication between parents and schools are essential to keep curricula focused on basic academics, free from political influence.

Believes transparency and open communication between parents and schools are essential to ensure curricula focus is on "basic academics, leaving no room for political influence from teachers, counselors, or school staff."

Believes "your zip code shouldn’t dictate your future" and supports choice and access in education.

Supports accessible education, saying, "your zip code shouldn’t dictate your future."

Believes in "Empowerment Scholarship Accounts" to promote school choice for all. Supports policies that enhance educational opportunities from K-12 to college.

Supports school choice and Empowerment Scholarship Accounts. 

- Believes transparency and open communication between parents and schools are essential to ensure curricula focus is on "basic academics, leaving no room for political influence from teachers, counselors, or school staff."
- Supports accessible education, saying, "your zip code shouldn’t dictate your future."
- Supports school choice and Empowerment Scholarship Accounts. 

Education

Supports sustained water conservation initiatives, a statewide water market, desalination projects, and renegotiating the Colorado River Compact to address water crises in Arizona.

Supports initiatives for water conservation and wants to establish a statewide water market and desalination projects and renegotiate the Colorado River Compact. 

Believes federal forest management has reduced Arizona’s tree cover and increased forest fires. Supports HCM2004 to encourage Congress to enact better forest management policies.

Believes federal forest management has reduced Arizona’s tree cover and increased forest fires. 

Supports legislation for "reasonable and prudent multiple-use forest management policies" to improve forest health.

Urges Congress to install legislation supporting "reasonable and prudent multiple-use forest management policies to improve forest health."

Believes water is essential for communities and opposes efforts to restrict water access, especially for Arizona farmers.

Believes water is essential for communities and opposes efforts to restrict water access for state residents, especially farmers.

- Supports initiatives for water conservation and wants to establish a statewide water market and desalination projects and renegotiate the Colorado River Compact. 
- Believes federal forest management has reduced Arizona’s tree cover and increased forest fires. 
- Urges Congress to install legislation supporting "reasonable and prudent multiple-use forest management policies to improve forest health."
- Believes water is essential for communities and opposes efforts to restrict water access for state residents, especially farmers.

Energy & the Environment

Opposes any form of government corruption

- Opposes any form of government corruption

Voting & Elections

Michele Pena

Supports repealing regressive taxes, such as rental and grocery taxes, to alleviate economic burdens. As a House Representative, voted for bills aimed at repealing these taxes in Arizona.

Believes in fiscal responsibility and supports boosting the state’s rainy day fund for future financial stability.

Supports creating bilateral trade agreements, such as with Taiwan, to boost the economy.

Believes repealing the grocery tax helps combat inflation and supports local farmers and families.

The candidate's website says, "It has become an increasing worry for many Arizonans as foreign investors acquire more United States agricultural land. Currently, over 37 million acres of US farmland are held by foreign investors with China’s investment increasing from under 14,000 acres in 2010 to more than 350,000 acres in 2020. HR2002 attempts to address this issue."

Believes toll-free highways are essential for the local economy and opposes converting existing roads into toll roads.

Believes freeing underused federal lands for development will boost affordable housing and help western communities grow.

The candidate's website says, "Each ambulance service is now required to authorize the service’s properly trained emergency medical care technicians (EMCTs) to provide emergency treatment to police dogs and to transport them to a veterinary clinic or hospital equipped to provide emergency equipment to dogs."

Believes in restoring civil rights automatically after completing a sentence and paying restitution for first-time felony convictions.

Supports public safety measures, including police dog emergency care. As a legislator, passed the Police Dog Emergency Care Bill.

The candidate's website says, "Requirements for Reporting Missing Children – PASSED!"

The candidate's website says, "Police Dog Emergency Care Bill – PASSED!"

Believes in enhancing public safety by supporting stringent reporting requirements for missing children. As a legislator, passed a bill on "Requirements for Reporting Missing Children."

Believes that increased K-12 funding in Arizona surpasses college costs and demonstrates that ESAs save money while offering educational flexibility.

Believes every child is unique and supports Arizona’s Universal Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) for parental choice in education.

As a State Representative, supported funding for Tohono O’odham Community College remedial education. Believes in promoting social mobility and education, especially in historically neglected communities.

Supports funding for remedial education at community colleges.

Supports funding for remedial education at community colleges. Said, "$2,000,0000 for the Tohono O’odham Community College Remedial Education – PASSED!"

Believes newer NFS policies overly prioritize forest preservation, leading to dense forests and severe wildfires. Said, these wildfires cause "increased erosion, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, loss of wildlife, and negative impacts to local economies."

Believes "sound scientific solutions" are needed to improve forest health and the economy. Supports replacing "inconsistent and overreaching forest management policies" with common-sense policies.

Supports using funds from federal land sales for National Park improvements, habitat preservation, and wildfire prevention.

Supports legislation requiring the Interior Secretary to establish a process for nominating underused federal lands for purchase while protecting federally designated areas.

Believes America's national forest system, covering one-third of the nation's land, provides significant beauty and economic prosperity.

Believes the majority of the U.S. Forest Service budget is now spent on firefighting costs.

As a House Representative, defeated bills increasing lobbyist gift limits and allowing campaign donations for family use, and supported HB2459 to combat school board corruption.

Believes voters should "be a resident of Arizona and the county listed on your registration." Supports ensuring accurate voter registration based on residency.

As of July 1, 2024, Michele Pena’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- Your state representatives represent the interests of your local district in the Arizona State House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up the state lawmaking body: the Arizona Legislature.
- Your state representatives can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws.
- Arizona has 30 districts, and each district is represented by two State Representatives, making a total of 60 State Representatives.
- State Representatives are elected to two-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $24,000. They only serve in the role part-time.