Representative Albert Tom
Candidate for Arizona State House
District 2 / Chambers
www.azleg.state.az.us/MembersPage.asp?Member_ID=56

TOM WINS WITH 36% OF THE VOTE.

Albert Tom, a Navajo tribal member who served on the Navajo Nation Council before serving in the Arizona House, is a proven advocate for citizens whose voices go unheard in the halls of government.

Following Through
Albert Tom works in the House to ensure Native American programs receive the funding they deserve. When the governor proposed funding for a new undergraduate program as part of the University of Arizona’s American Indian Studies Program, Representative Tom spearheaded efforts to fully fund the program in the House.  When the Navajo Health Foundation/Sage Memorial Hospital was short on funds, Tom fought to restore the missing funds. And this session Tom played a key role in the House in pushing for greater teacher compensation.  

Giving Voice to the Unheard
In Tom’s short career, his courage to stand up for the most vulnerable of his constituents stands out.  He has proposed legislation that would require anyone with knowledge of child abuse to report the information to authorities; he has sought increased sentencing for misdemeanors precipitated by hate; and he has joined a letter to President Bush urging rescission of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.  Albert Tom stands out as a leader with admirable courage and remarkable compassion for his constituents.

The Situation
Albert Tom has spent his short time in the legislature advocating for Arizona families and protecting the underprivileged, just as he did on the Navajo Nation Council before that. His opponent, Preston Korn, worries that Rep. Tom serves Indians too much in his four-reservation district and is running a campaign of negativity and misleading accusations. Tom’s lifetime of service to the community, his pragmatic experience in government, and his connection to the whole of District 2, set him apart from his inexperienced Flagstaff opponent.