Ballotpedia, Juan Mendez

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Juan was born in Phoenix. He holds an associate's degree in classical studies from Phoenix College and both a bachelor's degree in political science and a master of public administration degree from Arizona State University. He is a father. 

Juan previously worked as a substitute teacher at Tempe Union High School District and as a community voice mail manager for Community Voice Mail.

Juan Mendez currently serves as a state senator for State Senate District 8. He was elected to this position in 2016 and is serving his fourth term. Juan previously served as a state representative in State Legislative District 26. He was elected to this position in 2012 and served for 2 terms.  

Supports equal salaries and gender-neutral pay.

Supports affordable housing and policies that aid low-income families, veterans, and disabled and elderly populations.

Supports policies aimed to address economic inequalities.

Supports investing in technical education programs to help foster skills for employment.

- Supports equal salaries and gender-neutral pay.
- Supports affordable housing and policies that aid low-income families, veterans, and disabled and elderly populations.
- Supports providing livable wages.
- Supports policies aimed to address economic inequalities.
- Supports investing in technical education programs to help foster skills for employment.

Economy

Supports policies aimed to address racial injustices.

Wants to make efforts to end mass incarceration,  incarceration for those imprisoned for drug addiction-related matters, and passing laws legalizing marijuana possession and ending mandatory minimums.

Wants to abolish life sentences for children and private prisons.

Wants to establish transparency for law enforcement, abolish police officer immunity from lawsuits due to unlawful practice, and hold police officers accountable through databases and discipline records.

Wants to reallocate funds for law enforcement and state prison to education, healthcare, and housing.

Wants to repeal SB 1070, which aims to reduce undocumented immigration in Arizona.

Supports immigration and permitting refugees and asylum seekers to live in the U.S.

- Supports policies aimed to address racial injustices.
- Supports LGBTQIA rights.
- Wants to make efforts to end mass incarceration,  incarceration for those imprisoned for drug addiction-related matters, and passing laws legalizing marijuana possession and ending mandatory minimums.
- Wants to abolish life sentences for children and private prisons.
- Wants to demilitarize the police force.
- Wants to establish transparency for law enforcement, abolish police officer immunity from lawsuits due to unlawful practice, and hold police officers accountable through databases and discipline records.
- Wants to reallocate funds for law enforcement and state prison to education, healthcare, and housing.
- Wants to repeal SB 1070, which aims to reduce undocumented immigration in Arizona.
- Supports immigration and permitting refugees and asylum seekers to live in the U.S.

Public Safety

Believes "Healthcare is a universal right. Everyone should have access to high-quality care."

Supports providing Medicaid and the option to buy into the program for all state residents.

Wants to install policies aimed at regulating medication costs, improving safety measures, expanding basic drug coverage, and holding drugmakers accountable for marketing practices that contribute to opioid addiction.

Supports long-term COVID-19 safety measures, including widespread access to vaccines, boosters, and free testing, and urging masks in public when social distancing is not possible,

Supports abortion and promises to challenge any bans or restrictions.

Supports universal access to contraception.

- Believes "Healthcare is a universal right. Everyone should have access to high-quality care."
- Supports providing Medicaid and the option to buy into the program for all state residents.
- Wants to install policies aimed at regulating medication costs, improving safety measures, expanding basic drug coverage, and holding drugmakers accountable for marketing practices that contribute to opioid addiction.
- Supports long-term COVID-19 safety measures, including widespread access to vaccines, boosters, and free testing, and urging masks in public when social distancing is not possible,
- Supports abortion and promises to challenge any bans or restrictions.
- Supports universal access to contraception.

Healthcare

Wants to address teacher shortages, raise teacher pay, and reduce classroom sizes.

Believes there is increased segregation due to private schools illegitimately receiving funds allocated to public schools.

Opposes "one-size-fits-all approach...[and] over testing..." in schools and supports a  STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) focused curriculum prioritizing creative and critical thinking that reflects the backgrounds of all students.

Supports school adhering to COVID-19 safety measures, and providing options of delayed start dates, remote learning, and hybrid options for instruction.

- Wants to address teacher shortages, raise teacher pay, and reduce classroom sizes.
- Believes there is increased segregation due to private schools illegitimately receiving funds allocated to public schools.
- Opposes "one-size-fits-all approach...[and] over testing..." in schools and supports a  STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) focused curriculum prioritizing creative and critical thinking that reflects the backgrounds of all students.
- Supports free higher education.
- Supports school adhering to COVID-19 safety measures, and providing options of delayed start dates, remote learning, and hybrid options for instruction.

Education

Supports easy access to clean water, and wants to address "the profit motives of developers and corrupt utilities who are depleting and poisoning our shared water supply."

Wants policies aimed to reduce pollution, saying "low-income households and people of color are disproportionately impacted by air pollution."

Wants to increase well-paying jobs in the clean energy sector and invest in solar, wind, and hydropower.

- Supports easy access to clean water, and wants to address "the profit motives of developers and corrupt utilities who are depleting and poisoning our shared water supply."
- Wants policies aimed to reduce pollution, saying "low-income households and people of color are disproportionately impacted by air pollution."
- Wants to increase well-paying jobs in the clean energy sector and invest in solar, wind, and hydropower.

Energy & the Environment

Believes "The Republican-led Legislature has chipped away at Arizonans’ voting rights while expanding protections for dirty money and increased corporate spending on elections."

- Believes "The Republican-led Legislature has chipped away at Arizonans’ voting rights while expanding protections for dirty money and increased corporate spending on elections."

Voting & Elections

As of June 19, 2024, Juan Mendez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Endorsements

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Juan Mendez

As of June 28, 2024, Juan Mendez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Juan Mendez has experience as an educator and has worked as a community organizer and non-profit leader. Prior to his legislative role, he was involved in conducting research, developing policy strategies, and leading programs in the human services field. He has also worked for the Boys & Girls Clubs.

Believes tax cuts and incentives for corporations and the wealthy hinder economic progress for working families. Said, "Our wages haven’t kept up with the progress of the wealthy," making it difficult for families to escape poverty.

Believes in the importance of social assistance programs and workforce training to alleviate poverty. Supports organizations like Chicanos por la Causa for their role in providing such aid.

Believes public investment in education, health, infrastructure, transportation, research, and economic stability is essential for community growth.

- 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.