Kelly Fryer: Arizona's Next Political Powerhouse?

Kelly Fryer, a former minister and head of the YWCA in Tucson, ran for Governor of Arizona in 2018. Fryer, a Democrat, was one of three candidates in the Democratic primary, alongside Steve Farley and David Garcia. Despite building momentum, Fryer lost the primary to Garcia, who was defeated by incumbent Doug Ducey in the general election. Fryer's campaign platform included a focus on social justice, renewable energy, small businesses, and effective local public schools. She also advocated for a more inclusive and human-centric Arizona, pushing back against anti-LGBTQ legislation and immigration laws.

Kelly Fryer's vision for Arizona

• Making the economy work for everyone in all 15 counties of the state: Fryer wants to strengthen locally owned small businesses, reduce the number of families and children living in poverty, and make the economy work for everyone.
• Ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality education: Fryer aims to make the local district public school the best school for every child in every neighborhood across Arizona. She also wants to make charter schools "transparent, accountable, and rare".
• Creating an environmentally sustainable future for Arizona: Fryer wants to solve the state's water crisis and become a world leader in solar energy.

In addition to these priorities, Fryer is passionate about a range of other issues, including criminal justice reform, promoting racial and gender equity, gun safety, protecting LGBTQ rights, and creating a humane approach to immigration. She has spent 25 years leading nonprofit and for-profit companies, bringing diverse people together to create positive change. As governor, Fryer aims to bring a new set of values to the government, including compassion, inclusivity, freedom, dignity, and opportunity for all.

Her experience and leadership qualities

Kelly Fryer's experience and leadership qualities are evident from her 25-year career in leading non-profit and for-profit companies, bringing diverse people together to create positive change. Fryer is a proven leader who inspires people to think big, work together, and achieve meaningful results. She has never been a politician, but has dedicated her career to working with people to improve their lives. Fryer has served as a chief executive officer (CEO), teacher, minister, and entrepreneur, and these roles have prepared her to lead Arizona into a new era.

As a leader, Fryer is unafraid to challenge the status quo and believes that no good thing is impossible. Her specialty is turning around dysfunctional organizations by bringing people together. She plans to bring these skills to the state capitol, which she believes has forgotten that elected officials work for the people. Fryer wants to bring new values to the government: compassion, inclusivity, freedom, dignity, and opportunity for all.

Fryer's top three priorities, if elected, are:

• Making the economy work for everyone in all 15 counties of Arizona
• Ensuring that the local district public school is the best school for every child in every neighborhood
• Creating an environmentally sustainable future for the state

In addition to these priorities, Fryer is passionate about several other policy areas, including criminal justice reform, racial and gender equity, gun safety, immigration, LGBTQ rights, and healthcare access for all Arizonans. She plans to use a human rights lens for every policy she writes, every bill she signs, and every budget she drafts.

Her ability to inspire and bring people together

Kelly Fryer's ability to inspire and bring people together is evident in her extensive experience as a leader and community organizer. As a pastor, teacher, and non-profit CEO, Fryer has demonstrated a commitment to social justice and a unique ability to connect with people from all walks of life.

One of Fryer's standout qualities is her ability to inspire and bring people together towards a common goal. As a pastor, she led the congregation at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Compton, Illinois, for ten years, during which she expanded and developed the church, even in the face of initial resistance as its first female pastor. Fryer's inclusive and dynamic presence was instrumental in growing the congregation and fostering a sense of community. This ability to bring people together and create positive change is a testament to her leadership skills and her ability to inspire.

Fryer's work in social justice and community organizing further showcases her ability to inspire and unite people. As the head of the YWCA in Tucson, she has dedicated her efforts to empowering migrant women and other marginalized groups. Additionally, she has spent years growing a social justice organization, demonstrating her commitment to creating a more equitable society. Fryer's work in these roles has involved bringing together diverse stakeholders and building coalitions to address pressing social issues.

Fryer's campaign for governor of Arizona also highlights her ability to inspire and unite people behind a shared vision. Despite starting her campaign later than her opponents, she quickly gained momentum and garnered national attention. Fryer's platform, centered around making Arizona work for everyone, has resonated with many voters. She has articulated a detailed plan to address the state's challenges, including improving the economy, education, and environmental sustainability. Fryer's ability to inspire and bring people together is evident in her campaign's message of unity and positive change.

Furthermore, Fryer's personal story and background contribute to her ability to inspire and connect with people from all walks of life. Growing up with a mother who worked in a school cafeteria, a father who served in the navy, and a grandfather who was a union organizer, Fryer developed a strong sense of social awareness and a commitment to advocating for others. Her experiences as a member of student government and her involvement in protests during her university years further shaped her leadership skills and ability to inspire change. Fryer's diverse life experiences allow her to relate to a wide range of people and inspire them to work together towards a common goal.

In conclusion, Kelly Fryer's ability to inspire and bring people together is evident in her extensive leadership experience, community organizing efforts, and personal background. Her dynamic presence, commitment to social justice, and skill in uniting diverse stakeholders make her a powerful force for positive change. Fryer's unique ability to inspire and unite people is a key asset in her pursuit of a position that will allow her to make a lasting impact on the state of Arizona.

Her stance on social issues

Kelly Fryer's social policies are driven by her pledge to use a human rights lens for every policy she writes, every bill she signs, and every budget she drafts. She has outlined a number of areas of public policy that she is passionate about, including criminal justice reform, racial and gender equity, gun safety, tribal nation sovereignty, tax structure equity, affordable healthcare, humane immigration, and LGBTQ rights.

Fryer has spent 25 years leading non-profit and for-profit companies, bringing diverse people together to make positive change. She has decades of executive leadership experience and an ability to inspire. She has grown a social justice organization in Tucson by 400% over the last five years. She has also served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Microbusiness Advancement Center/Stand Together Arizona Training & Advocacy Center, and the Southern Arizona Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA).

Fryer's top three priorities, if elected, are:

• Making the economy work for everyone in all 15 counties of Arizona
• Making the best school, for every child in every neighborhood across the state, the local district public school
• Creating an environmentally sustainable future for Arizona

Fryer's detailed plan for achieving these goals is available on her website. She believes that Arizona has all the resources, brainpower, and willpower to fix every problem it faces. She wants to make Arizona a place that works for everyone.

Her political opponents and the media

Kelly Fryer, a former minister and CEO of the YWCA of Southern Arizona, has faced opposition from both political opponents and the media in her bid to become the governor of Arizona. Fryer, a Democrat, ran for election in 2018, losing in the Democratic primary. Despite her impressive resume and decades of executive leadership experience, she faced an uphill battle against established political figures and a largely unsupportive media.

Fryer's political opponents, particularly those from the Republican side of Arizona's legislature, were not keen on her progressive agenda. As a self-described provocateur pushing the Democrats back to their roots, Fryer advocated for a human-centric approach to governance, focusing on issues such as social justice, education, and LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights. She also proposed reversing four decades of tax cuts for the rich, a stance that likely faced opposition from conservative lawmakers and their supporters.

In addition to her political opponents, Fryer also encountered resistance from the media. Her campaign manager and daughter, Emma Fryer, wrote about the media blackout and intentional exclusion Fryer faced from several news outlets. For example, an ABC-affiliate in Tucson, where Fryer had spent years growing a social justice organization, deleted any mention of her from their stories. Similarly, an Arizona radio station invited Fryer's primary opponents to a forum on education, excluding her from the discussion.

Fryer's campaign also faced an early challenge due to her late entry into the race. Her two primary opponents, Steve Farley and David Garcia, had already been campaigning for over six months when she joined. Despite this setback, Fryer quickly built momentum, receiving national attention and polling close to the career politician with the most financial backing. However, her lack of name recognition, especially compared to her opponents, may have contributed to the media's exclusion of her from certain stories and events.

Overall, Kelly Fryer's experience highlights the challenges faced by political candidates, especially those with progressive agendas, in gaining traction and media coverage. Despite her impressive qualifications and commitment to making a difference, Fryer faced an uphill battle against established political and media forces in Arizona.

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