Ballotpedia, Mitzi Epstein

LinkedIn

Mitzi is from Chicago, Illinois. She has a bachelors degree in computer science from Bradley University. She and her husband Rick live in Tempe and have raised two adult sons. 

Mitzi owns Custom Language Training in Tempe.

Denise "Mitzi" Epstein is currently serving as an Arizona State Senator representing State Legislative District 12. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term. She began serving as Senate Minority Leader in March 2023. She served three terms as an Arizona State Representative for District 18 from 2016-2022. She ran for Arizona State Representative for District 18 in 2014, but did not win. 

Candidate website

Believes in working with market forces to build a strong economy and provide consumer choices but opposes the idea that tax cuts for billionaires will create high-paying jobs.

Believes Arizona's $1.3 billion surplus should fund public education, caregiver wages, small businesses, and affordable housing. Supports using over $3 billion for one-time projects like infrastructure and debt reduction.

Supports using Arizona's $1.3 billion surplus to fund public education, caregiver wages, small businesses, and affordable housing. Supports using over $3 billion available for one-time projects like infrastructure and debt reduction.

Believes in balancing support for innovation with consumer protections. Plans to ensure small businesses are supported, corporations are accountable, and taxpayers enjoy a fair balance between income retention and community contributions.

Aims to ensure small businesses are supported, corporations are accountable, and taxpayers enjoy a fair balance between income retention and community contributions.

Believes affordable housing is crucial due to stagnant wages and rising costs. Supports wage increases for essential workers and acknowledges the challenges millennials face in buying homes due to high prices.

Supports measures to secure affordable housing.

- Believes in working with market forces to build a strong economy and provide consumer choices but opposes the idea that tax cuts for billionaires will create high-paying jobs.
- Supports using Arizona's $1.3 billion surplus to fund public education, caregiver wages, small businesses, and affordable housing. Supports using over $3 billion available for one-time projects like infrastructure and debt reduction.
- Aims to ensure small businesses are supported, corporations are accountable, and taxpayers enjoy a fair balance between income retention and community contributions.
- Supports measures to secure affordable housing.

Economy

Believes safe neighborhoods are essential and supports adequate funding for public safety professionals. Advocates for "sensible background checks" and "common sense ways" to protect communities from gun violence.

Supports gun control, advocating for "sensible background checks" and "common sense ways" to protect communities from gun violence.

As a House Representative, sponsored HB2604 to extend Orders of Protection for domestic violence victims, enhancing their safety. Believes in collaborative problem-solving with courts, victims' rights groups, and police departments to protect vulnerable individuals.

As a House Representative, sponsored HB2604 to extend the timeframe of orders of protection for domestic violence victims.

Opposes allowing guns on college campuses, believing it could lead to more weapons in active shooter situations.

Opposes HB2447 to allow guns on college campuses.

Supports adequate funding and secure retirement for first responders.

- Supports gun control, advocating for "sensible background checks" and "common sense ways" to protect communities from gun violence.
- As a House Representative, sponsored HB2604 to extend the timeframe of orders of protection for domestic violence victims.
- Opposes HB2447 to allow guns on college campuses.
- Supports adequate funding and secure retirement for first responders.

Public Safety

Believes in protecting reproductive rights and access to safe, legal abortion. Plans to fight for personal healthcare decisions despite the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Healthcare

Opposes "unaccountable schemes" like private school voucher programs that divert funds from public schools. Plans to continue fighting for the public schools that serve 95% of Arizona's students.

Opposes private school voucher programs that divert funds from public schools.

Believes the defeat of Proposition 208 is a "tragedy" for Arizona's public schools. Supports increased investment in education to ensure a more prosperous, competitive, and equitable future for the state's 1.1 million students.

Supports increased investment in education.

Supports increased teacher pay, better funding for students, and additional school counselors and psychologists.

Believes in lifting the artificial limit on K-12 spending to ensure school districts access allocated funds. Supports policies that enhance funding and resources for K-12 education.

Believes in lifting the aggregate expenditure limit, a "artificial limit" on K-12 spending to ensure school districts access allocated funds. 

- Opposes private school voucher programs that divert funds from public schools.
- Supports increased investment in education.
- Supports increased teacher pay, better funding for students, and additional school counselors and psychologists.
- Believes in lifting the aggregate expenditure limit, a "artificial limit" on K-12 spending to ensure school districts access allocated funds. 

Education

Believes groundwater management is crucial to avoid "adding endless water to a leaky bucket" and supports a balanced approach of conservation and growth involving all stakeholders.

Supports immediate efforts of groundwater management.

- Supports immediate efforts of groundwater management.

Energy & the Environment

Believes in protecting the right to free and fair elections with maximum voter access. As a House Representative, helped stop bills that would have restricted early voting and purged valid voters from the voter list.

Believes in protecting the right to free and fair elections with maximum voter access. 

- Believes in protecting the right to free and fair elections with maximum voter access. 

Voting & Elections

Facebook

Endorsed by the Arizona Medical Political Action Committee.

- Endorsed by the Arizona Medical Political Action Committee.

Endorsements

Denise "Mitzi" Epstein

Believes taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability for government spending. Opposes spending taxpayer dollars on "partisan games" like election audits and vanity projects.

Believes in improving unemployment insurance benefits for workers while reducing tax rates for employers. Supports historic, bipartisan, and bicameral efforts to enhance unemployment help.

The candidate's website says, "The cost of living, especially the cost of housing, has risen dramatically; Mitzi will ensure the choices in our control are made responsibly, with children, taxpayers and families as the priority. Renters want simpler contracts and easier processes to get repairs done. Landlords want reasonable laws to support their efforts to keep apartment buildings safe. Children and teens need more education and support when it comes to mental health, social media threats, and suicide prevention. We can keep our communities safer while reducing red tape for everybody."

Believes in supporting skilled workers, including bakers, bricklayers, communications workers, electrical workers, food and commercial workers, letter carriers, machinists and aerospace workers, sheet metal workers, teachers, Teamsters, theater stage employees, retirees, and more.

Believes creating a good environment in Arizona requires "excellent public education, quality childcare, affordable housing, and a plan for water" to address workforce shortages and promote sensible growth.

Believes in supporting small businesses and local employers. Plans to address labor issues, trade, taxes, and regulation to strengthen the economy.

Believes protection for domestic violence victims will improve by increasing orders of protection to 2 years and emergency orders to 7 days.

As a House Representative, extended the timeframe for Orders of Protection for victims of domestic violence to enhance their safety. Believes more work is needed to support victims and improve public safety.

Opposes allowing guns on college campuses, believing it would increase the risk in active shooter situations. Said, "The good news is that it was retained without a vote - so far."

Believes in simplifying rental processes and supporting landlords to enhance community safety. Advocates for increased education and support for youth mental health and suicide prevention.

Believes in reducing suicide rates through leadership, persistence, and collaboration. As a public safety advocate, worked to lower suicide rates in Arizona.

The candidate's website says, "Passed laws improving insurance coverage of mental health services, including suicide prevention"

Supports automatic Medicaid renewal for former foster children until age 26.

Believes in involving patients, providers, and insurers in healthcare policy planning. As a legislator, formed the Mental Health Parity Advisory Committee.

Believes state-regulated insurers should provide a customer service line on insurance cards. Supports accessible healthcare services and insurance transparency.

Believes in requiring insurance companies to cover mental health care equally with physical healthcare. Supports comprehensive healthcare policies, including state laws for enforcement and compliance.

Believes in comprehensive healthcare standards, including follow-up services for at-risk patients. Supports reporting HEDIS measures to enhance understanding of insurance policies.

The candidate's website says, "Require DIFI to create a website to educate residents about what insurers should be offering and how to file insurance complaints."

The candidate's website says, "Passed Family Caregiver grants to support Arizonans caring for elderly parents and dependent children"

The candidate's website says, "2017-18 We added a Statewide Suicide Prevention Coordinator to the ongoing AZ Budget."

Believes public education is essential for a thriving economy and quality of life. Plans to ensure schools are "high quality, equitable and accountable" with comprehensive programs beyond test scores.

Plans to ensure schools are "high quality, equitable and accountable" with comprehensive programs.

Believes teaching is increasingly complex due to rising mandates and social stresses. Said, "Keeping the attention of 30 squirmy 12-year-olds has always been an admirable feat."

Opposes HB2495, calling it "book banning" and arguing it would outlaw many classic books. Believes current laws already prevent exposing children to pornography and allow parents to preview school books.

Believes investing in high-quality public education is essential for a bright future. Supports policies that enhance K-12 education to prepare children for roles as future professionals.

Opposes "attacks on teachers" such as requiring them to declare their political party and censoring history lessons.

As a House Representative, passed the Suicide Prevention Training for Teachers bill, known as The Mitch Warnock Law, with Sen. Bowie.

Believes Arizona is vulnerable to climate change and plans to ensure access to clean water by working with experts and stakeholders.

Believes in "helping local leaders run, win, and legislate on the climate crisis." Supports empowering local leadership to address environmental issues.

Believes in "helping local leaders run, win, and legislate on the climate crisis." Supports proactive measures to address the climate crisis through local leadership.

Believes in addressing environmental issues and economic security through grassroots efforts. Supports collaboration with local groups to tackle these challenges.

Opposes HB2602, which would eliminate Voting Centers, calling them "an incredibly popular and convenient way" to ensure all voters can cast a ballot. Believes the bill creates unnecessary barriers to voting.

Believes the bill "creates new ways to cancel people’s voter registration," forcing eligible Arizona voters to navigate red tape to prove their right to vote.

Opposes "bad elections bills," having voted against six such bills in February.

Opposes HB2710, stating it would expose sensitive voter information and was not thoroughly vetted.

Believes in protecting and restoring election integrity. As a House Representative, voted for HB2493 to fund efforts for election integrity.

Believes raising the minimum number of signatures for initiatives or referendums is "punishment for the teachers, parents and retirees" supporting public education and social goods.

Believes recent legislation makes it more difficult to vote. Opposes bills that negatively impact voting rights and election administration.

Believes in protecting and restoring election integrity. Supports efforts to safeguard voting rights and improve election administration.

The candidate's website says, "In Arizona, we elect 2 state representatives and 1 state senator for each of the 30 legislative districts. In 2022, our community is Legislative District 12, which includes Ahwatukee, west Chandler and south Tempe."

Denise 'Mitzi' Epstein has been married to her husband Rick for over 35 years and together they have raised two adult sons. Specific details about where they live, where Mitzi attended school, and what church they attend are not provided in the information given.

Denise 'Mitzi' Epstein is currently serving as a State Representative and has previously served as a member of the Kyrene School Board. Her professional background reflects a focus on community involvement, particularly in the areas of education and economic development.

As of July 2, 2024, Denise "Mitzi" Epstein’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Arizona State Senate. The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Arizona Legislature. 
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process. 
- State senators are involved in approving some appointments by the governor.
- There are 30 Arizona senators, each representing a single district.
- State senators are elected to two-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $24,000.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Arizona Senate.