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Juan Mendez (politician)

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Juan Mendez
Member of the Arizona Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2017
Preceded byAndrew Sherwood
Constituency26th district (2017–2023)
8th district (2023–present)
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 26th district
In office
January 2013 – January 9, 2017
Preceded byTerri Proud
Succeeded byAthena Salman
Personal details
Born (1985-05-18) May 18, 1985 (age 39)
Arizona, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
​
(m. 2022)​
Residence(s)Tempe, Arizona, U.S.
EducationPhoenix College (AA)
Arizona State University (BA)
WebsiteGovernment website

Juan Jose Mendez (born May 18, 1985) is an American politician and State Senator from Arizona. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Education

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Born and raised in Arizona, Mendez attended Tolleson Union High School and received an associate degree from Phoenix College.[1] He later received a bachelor's degree from Arizona State University, majoring in political science.[2]

Career

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Mendez was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2012. He served on the Insurance and Retirement Committee and the Reform and Human Services Committee.[2]

Mendez supports closing "tax loopholes" for out-of-state corporations, raising education funding, and more restrictions on gifts to legislators. He opposes Arizona SB 1070 and allowing guns in schools.[3]

Mendez is an atheist, and one of few atheist politicians serving in the United States.[4] Mendez gained national attention in 2013 for choosing to open a House meeting with a secular speech, rather than a traditional religious prayer.[5] During his speech, Mendez quoted Carl Sagan.[6]

Mendez, along with fellow representatives Clark, Hale, Larkin, and Mach, introduced HB2283 in 2016 to enact Ranked-Choice Voting for all Arizona elections. The text of the bill contained provisions for Instant Runoff Voting, for single-seat positions, and for Single Transferable Vote, for multi-seat positions. It also contained provisions to educate voters on Ranked-Choice Voting, and to ensure voting machines would be compliant with ranked ballots. The bill was referred to both the House Elections Committee and the House Rules Committee, but received no action in either committee, and received no floor votes.[7]

Mendez serves on the City of Phoenix Human Services Advisory Committee, and manages the nonprofit Community Voice Mail, an organization devoted to helping the impoverished.[2]

In 2018, The Arizona Republic confirmed that Mendez plagiarized some responses to a questionnaire.[8] Additionally, in 2018, he was the only member of the Arizona Senate to vote against a bill designating the Sonorasaurus as Arizona's state dinosaur.[9][10] In his vote explanation, Mendez stated that he voted against the bill because it didn't have an amendment acknowledging that the dinosaur was a vegetarian.[11]

In 2023, Mendez became the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Elections.

In February 2024, Mendez welcomed members of the Satanic Temple of Arizona to the Arizona Senate and discussed their right to religious freedom.[12][13] Mendez would go on later in the day to be the only Senator to vote against a bill banning Satanic displays on State Property.[14][15]

Personal life

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In mid-March 2019, Mendez became engaged to a fellow legislator, Arizona Representative Athena Salman, and they were married in 2022.[16] Together, they have two children.

References

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  1. ^ Juan Mendez's Biography
  2. ^ a b c "Juan Mendez". Arizona State House. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  3. ^ "Phoenix Arizona Election Questionnaire for State Legislature, JUAN MENDEZ". Arizona Central. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  4. ^ Hendley, Matthew (March 4, 2014). "Atheist Representative Juan Mendez Brings More Non-Prayer to the Arizona House". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  5. ^ Reinhart, Mary (May 22, 2013). "Ariz. lawmaker comes out as an atheist during meeting". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  6. ^ Hendley, Matthew (May 21, 2013). "Atheist State Lawmaker Quotes Carl Sagan Instead of Doing Prayer Before House Session". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  7. ^ "Bill Status Inquiry". apps.azleg.gov. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  8. ^ "Arizona state Sen. Juan Mendez accused of plagiarism". azcentral.com. March 30, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  9. ^ "Bill History for SB1517". AZ Leg. Website - Bill Status Inquiry. Arizona State Legislature. April 10, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  10. ^ "Arizona dinosaur: Sonorasaurus named official state dinosaur". ABC15. Scripps Media. April 24, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2023. Governor Ducey has named the Sonorasaurus the official state dinosaur in response to a letter from an 11-year-old student. However, some may have a bone to pick with this selection.
  11. ^ "Senate Floor Session Part 1 - Committee of the Whole #1". Arizona State Legislature. February 22, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2023. he was a vegetarian... wish we could have included this as an amendment
  12. ^ "Video of Juan Mendez from @AZSenateGOP". X. February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  13. ^ "ARCHIVED MEETINGS - Senate Floor Session 02/07/2024". Arizona State Legislature. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  14. ^ Fischer, Howard (February 7, 2024). "Panel votes to ban Satan displays from public property in Arizona". Tucson.com. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  15. ^ Siever, Caitlin (February 7, 2024). "Freedom Caucus leader wants to limit religious freedom by barring Satanic displays in Arizona". AZ Mirror. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  16. ^ stephenson, hank. "MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TO EXPLAIN MY LOVE". Yellow Sheet Report. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
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