Notes From The Chair | Dec. 2020

Finally, 2020 is ending, and like most of you, I can’t wait to turn the page on this awful year. COVID-19 has brought tragedy into millions of American homes. Loved ones have sickened and died, too often alone in a hospital or nursing home. Unemployment and evictions are ruining countless lives. Small-business owners have seen their hard work turn to dust. Our children miss their schoolmates. And we all faced the agonizing choice between spending holidays apart from family or risking illness to be together.

But there were bright spots, not the least of which was the huge Biden-Harris win on Nov. 3. Every Democrat who worked toward that victory by volunteering can claim credit for it. Pima Dems should be especially proud, because without our votes, Arizona would have stayed solidly red. PCDP helped elect Mark Kelly to the Senate, reelect Ann Kirkpatrick to the House, Democrats to nearly every countywide office, and a fourth Democratic Pima County supervisor.

As your new chair, I’m determined to see Arizona turn from purple to blue. We have a big task in front of us for 2022: reelecting Kelly, taking back the governorship, flipping the state legislature, and preparing for 2024.

But first comes redistricting, which is our biggest challenge for 2021 because it impacts political control of Arizona for the next decade. We’ve seen what Republican control in Phoenix looks like. It’s ugly, and has hurt so many Arizonans in so many ways. Democrats are committed to government that works for the people, not for special interests.

You honored me with your votes, and I pledge to work as hard as I can to keep the Blue Wave moving forward. A huge thank-you to Chair Alison Jones for leaving me a turn-key operation at headquarters, and for assembling a diverse team of talented volunteers who’ll make the transition seamless.

Alison transformed PCDP, raising record amounts of money and leaving PCDP on sound financial footing. She oversaw PCDP’s first-ever platform, which represents what we stand for. She pushed for Spanish translations on our website.

Alison put out the welcome mat for Democrats and left-leaning independents who’d never been involved with the party, and coaxed back many who’d drifted away. PCDP is more inclusive than ever, by every metric.

I’m eager to start work with our new officers: First Vice Chair Nathan Davis, Second Vice Chair Kalyanraman Bharathan, Treasurer Caroline Garcia, Recording Secretary Morgan Graham, and Corresponding Secretary Priya Sundareshan. They bring a wealth of skills, energy and fresh perspectives to PCDP.

Just a bit about me: I became politically active after the 2016 election by joining Indivisible, became a PC, and was elected LD10 chair in 2018. I also headed the committee of LD chairs. In the past two years, LD10 built a $10,000 campaign war chest, increased the LD10 volunteer base to 800, and flipped our LD’s Arizona House seat for the Democrats.

I’m from Los Angeles, and have lived in Arizona since 2006. I hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in public administration. I retired from Hewlett-Packard as a project manager in 2014, and for eight years owned a beading store in Colorado Springs.

I’ve been married to Michael Heidler for 43 years. We live with our golden retriever, Sugar, near the Tanque Verde Loop. I’m a proud step-mom and step-grandmother.

Here’s wishing everyone a HEALTHY and fulfilling 2021. May we see an end to the pandemic and a rebirth of optimism in our country.

– Bonnie Heidler