On Monday evening, the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce hosted a New Voices Forum of state officeholders, many of whom are seen as rising stars in Arizona politics. The forum was held at the A. E. England Building on the downtown Phoenix campus of Arizona State University.


Among the forum participants were newly elected Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone, Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes, State Representatives Tony Navarrete, Michelle Udall and Isela Blanc, and Mayor Anna Tovar.


The panelists spoke about their efforts to reach out to the Hispanic community, and increasing voter participation in minority neighborhoods. Fontes, in particular, ran as a reformer of the county election system, replacing thirty year incumbent Helen Purcell in a referendum on the poor state of the county voting system.


Paul Penzone, who replaced Joe Arpaio, a twenty year incumbent, as Maricopa County Sheriff, also participated in the forum. Penzone has been receiving attention in recent media reports for his overhaul of the Maricopa County jail system, reversing many of the policies that had been implemented under Arpaio's tenure.


The Ed Pastor Center for Politics and Public Service served as a cosponsor for the event, with former Congressman Ed Pastor himself speaking at the beginning of the forum, and praising the program participants.


You can find photos from the event here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskXZ4u3f