Around the Districts Podcast

Melissa Galarza Details the Power of Local Representation

Local districts must collaborate to defeat well-funded political machines. In this episode, Legislative District 12 Chair Melissa Galarza details how grassroots campaigns swap resources and bypass the consultant class. We discuss the direct path from local school boards to federal office. When we elect strong leaders at the municipal level today, we block bad national policy tomorrow. Watch to learn how to secure power in your neighborhood. Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/collaboration-melissa-galarza-part-2 [https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/collaboration-melissa-galarza-part-2] == Learn more about LD12 Democrats == Website: https://azld12dems.org/ [https://azld12dems.org/] Melissa Galarza Profile: https://azld12dems.org/2026/05/melissa-galarza/ [https://azld12dems.org/2026/05/melissa-galarza/] Contact: contact@azld12dems.org [contact@azld12dems.org] The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

Safe Streets and Collaborative Compromise in Chandler

Chandler Council Member Matt Orlando campaigns to become the next Mayor of Chandler. He brings 25 years of public service to city hall. In this episode, we sit down with Matt to discuss the true cost of high-tech industry sprawl, data centers, and community safety. He explains his recent vote to reject a massive artificial intelligence data center where developers failed to guarantee local jobs. We also examine his collaborative model for safety, which includes addiction recovery and mental health access. Finally, Matt shares his practical approach to local peace and neighborhood compromise. Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/matt-orlando-chandler-mayor-part1 [https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/matt-orlando-chandler-mayor-part1] == Learn more about Matt Orlando == Website: https://www.mattorlandoformayor.com [https://www.mattorlandoformayor.com] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattorlandoformayor [https://www.facebook.com/mattorlandoformayor] Verify your registration status: https://beballotready.vote [https://beballotready.vote] The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

Local Action and Real Relationships for Chandler Families

Welcome back to Around the Districts! In this episode, we sit down for Part 2 of our conversation with Chandler City Council candidate Cicely Rocha-Miller to pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to run a grassroots local campaign. Cicely shares her perspective on why the arts are a fundamental connector—not a luxury—for the Chandler community, detailing the unique partnership between the Chandler Center for the Arts and local public schools. She also gets real about the physical and financial grind of local politics, from overcoming the "guilt" of campaign fundraising to canvassing in 105-degree Arizona heat. If you want to know what municipal leadership looks like when it is built on real relationships rather than corporate PAC money, this episode is for you. Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/cicely-rocha-miller-part2 [https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/cicely-rocha-miller-part2] == Learn more about Cicely Rocha-Miller == Website: https://www.cicelyforchandler.com [https://www.cicelyforchandler.com] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cicelyforchandler [https://www.tiktok.com/@cicelyforchandler] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cicelyforchandler [https://www.instagram.com/cicelyforchandler] Facebook: http://facebook.com/cicelyforchandler [http://facebook.com/cicelyforchandler] The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

Constitutional Shield for All Arizona Voters, the Free, Fair, and Secure Elections Act

In the second part of our conversation, Maritza Saenz returns to expose the deep conflict over ballot access in Arizona. The state legislature maintains a steady assault on early ballots and mail-in access. We dissect the Free, Fair, and Secure Elections Act (I-08-2026), a citizen measure that establishes voter rights in the Arizona Constitution. This measure places established ballot access out of reach for partisan politicians. Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/maritza-saenz-protect-vote-part-2 [https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/maritza-saenz-protect-vote-part-2] == Learn more about Protect the Vote Arizona == Website: https://protectthevoteaz.com/ [https://protectthevoteaz.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578510954989 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578510954989] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protectthevoteaz/ [https://www.instagram.com/protectthevoteaz/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@protect_the_vote_az [https://www.tiktok.com/@protect_the_vote_az] The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

The Cost of Survival in Legislative District Eight

The 2026 election cycle is here. Wealth alone does not buy movements. In this episode, we continue our conversation with Claudia Kline. She seeks a seat in the Arizona House of Representatives for Legislative District 8. We look at the harsh landscape for rural Arizona. We show how state policy fails our neighbors. We dissect how corporations use right-to-work laws to exploit workers and suppress wages. We discuss the medical deserts of rural towns and the drought of secure jobs. Learn how working-class families are organizing to reclaim their power and defend their homes through raw, collective labor. Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/claudia-kline-ld8-part-2 [https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/claudia-kline-ld8-part-2] == Learn more about Claudia Kline == Website: https://www.claudiaforaz.com/ [https://www.claudiaforaz.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudia4az/ [https://www.instagram.com/claudia4az/] The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.