Blake retired in 2013 after 28 years with Intel Corporation. He holds a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from the University of Cincinnati and a master of education from Central Michigan University. He has been an active member of the Gilbert community for many years, where he served as a member of the Gilbert Public Schools board, president of the Gilbert Education Foundation and co-chair of Unite for Education AZ. He ran for the Arizona legislature in 2018. Blake and his wife Cindy have two grown children and have been Gilbert residents for more than 30 years. He enjoys running, gardening, and spending time with his family.

Why RCV?
Blake believes that good people run for office and get corrupted by a bad system. The only way to ensure that our government works for everyone is to improve the system. Ranked Choice Voting is a small change that will have a powerful impact by ensuring that the people of Arizona have more choice and more voice in our elections.

Kazz currently serves Voter Choice Arizona as Organizing Director, and formerly was a National Organizer on the issue of Ranked Choice Voting, with our national partner, Rank the Vote. He previously worked on Voter registration and GOTV campaigns as a Regional Organizing Director in Arizona during the 2020 election, with a focus on mobilizing voters around youth and climate issues. Before transitioning to professional organizing, Kazz managed his energy auditing and consulting business, and worked as an industrial sales engineer for a multinational corporation. In his free time, Kazz hikes, camps, climbs rock & ice, gardens and makes fermented hot sauce.

Why RCV?
I’ve been in favor of RCV since I was in high school. Back then, I thought the adults were going to figure things out and implement such an important reform sooner, rather than later. Over a decade later, I was making thousands of calls to encourage people to vote and get them registered to vote. The level of voter apathy and the number of folks that didn’t want to have to vote AGAINST a candidate or party for yet another election reminded me that we’ll continue to feel alienated by our political system until we can improve our elections to have a system that actually represents the people voting and to a system where everyone feels like they can vote their conscience and vote FOR their issues and candidates.

Richard has been an Arizona resident since 1996, after serving in the US Navy as a submarine officer. He retired in 2018 from a work life in Business Analysis and IT Program Management, and in addition to Voter Choice AZ also volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate working with foster kids. Richard enjoys travel, cycling and other outdoor activities, and performs occasionally with musical groups.

Why RCV?
Too many examples to list of elected officials not doing what most voters want, which is the essence of democracy. RCV will ensure the person winning an election is supported by the majority, and therefore more likely to value their best interests.

Eric is a Tucson native who has previously worked for TUSD teaching FLES to elementary school students, owned a local commercial landscape company, and currently works as an organizational development consultant. He’s studied at Pima Community College, Northern Arizona University, the Edinburgh College of Art, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in organizational management from the University of Arizona. Eric’s experience as an educator and a business owner in Arizona has given him a first-hand perspective into the downstream effects of our current electoral system; as a result, he is passionate about improving the way we choose our elected officials.

Why RCV?
I believe in ranked choice voting as a process and in how it will foster positive outcomes for our state. Our current system has caused deep division, vitriolic rhetoric, and extreme distrust in our elected officials and with one another. After countless arguments with friends, coworkers, and perfect strangers both in-person and online, I realized that partisan discourse did not provide the solutions I was looking for. When the concept of RCV was introduced to me it was clear to me that it embodied inclusion, action, and more choice for everyone involved. I made the decision to focus my talents on making this a reality for Arizona, found VCAZ and I haven’t looked back.

Betsy relocated to Tucson in 2021 where she is the Southern Arizona Regional Director for Arizonans for Fair Elections and a board member of the League of Women Voters, Tucson. In Massachusetts she co-founded the Million Mom March for Gun Control chapter, worked in the MA state legislature, and advocated for children, women, peace and equity. Betsy has a BA in History and certifications in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the Renew U.S. Campaign Manager Training.

Why RCV?
I realized a long time ago that in order to see improvements on issues that are important to so many of us like the environment, gun control, equity, and more, we have to change the electoral and political systems that uphold the status quo. I believe RCV is a positive solution that will lead to a more diverse pool of candidates, provide for greater accountability, and reduce negative rhetoric. I am excited to be a part of this effort here in Arizona.

Donna Davis is the Senior Community Impact Manager for Education Forward Arizona, a statewide nonpartisan education advocacy organization believing that a thriving economy and a strong quality of life is possible when every Arizona student has a fair shot at success.  In addition, in 2022, Donna was elected to the Maricopa County Community College Governing Board.

Donna has over 30 years of experience in the non-profit sector, devoting most of her time to organizations that focus on youth, education and workforce development.  Donna spent 23 years traveling the world as a military spouse and arrived in Phoenix in 1990 from Yemen.  She worked at the American Embassy in Sana’a Yemen as the Community Liaison Officer and was awarded a Meritorious Honor Award for improving post morale and quality of life.

Donna holds a bachelor’s degree in health education from the State University of New York, College at Brockport. She is a member of the Governor’s Commission for Service and Volunteerism, served on the Arizona state PTA Board, is a graduate of Leadership West, Class 3 and was a member of Project CENTRL class 29.  Donna and her husband of 48 years, Jeff, are the proud parents of 3 children and even prouder grandparents of 6.

Michael is a longtime Tucson resident, where he served as the President of the Food Conspiracy Coop Board of Directors for three years and then staging location lead for Mission for Arizona during the 2022 election cycle. His background includes managing community-based projects such as a nature center in Prescott, AZ, and a co-housing development in Northern California, along with program coordination and systems development work for non-profit organizations in Arizona and California.