Who We Are, Why We Care

Our Founding Fathers specifically warned us about the threat to our electoral process from a two-party system. Ask yourself

"Are we living up to the vision of our founding fathers?"

The coalition’s motivation is rooted in the shared belief that elections should work for every voter.

Let’s do something real and ensure the integrity of the electoral process and guarantee equal access to the ballot for everyone regardless of Party. Let's make our Founding Fathers proud.

This coalition of Arizona citizens intends to educate voters of the challenges facing the state of Arizona brought about by our partisan primary system and explore alternative nonpartisan voting systems that would make elections work better for all citizens.

Meet Our Executive Board

"Arizona has a real opportunity for positive change, to create a more representative and inclusive election system where all voters are important, problem-solving is rewarded, and candidates are held accountable."

Retiring from 25 years on air shaping the Phoenix public radio and media landscape, local award-winning radio host Steve Goldstein isn’t signing off just yet. Save Democracy Arizona is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Goldstein as the organization’s new Executive Director.

Steve Goldstein,

Executive Director

"We want elections that treat all voters and candidates the same, that honor civility, and that produce officials who focus on the issues Arizonans really care about."

Sarah Smallhouse, President and Secretary

Sarah Smallhouse has a BA in Economics from the University of Washington, an MBA from the University of Arizona, and an MPA from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She was the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce 2008 Woman of the Year and received the Thomas L. Swanson Regional Leadership Award from the Pima Association of Governments for enhancing the regional community despite jurisdictional boundaries, promoting cooperation among residents and elected officials, and leading innovation on regional issues. She is President of the Thomas R. Brown Foundations, past-chair of the UA Foundation Board and co-chaired the University of Arizona’s Arizona NOW capital campaign. For several years she led initiatives on infrastructure and international trade while serving on the board of Tucson Regional Economics Opportunities. Today she serves on the UA Foundation Board of Trustees, the Advisory Board for the UA College of Science, the Biosphere 2 Board, and heads the College of Science Galileo Circle. Additionally, she serves on the board of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council and co-chairs its Governance Committee.

"Electoral process reform options are increasingly gaining momentum as more Americans, Arizona included, realize that our political system is broken and needs fixing."

“Si” Schorr has been engaged in state and local governance over the past 60 years. Most recently he was chairman of the Arizona State Transportation Board and founding chair of the Pima County Regional Transportation Commission and was a founding board member of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council.

Si Schorr,

Vice President

"Candidates should talk to all voters with a focus on the issues — not just a small portion of their party. Elections should be about candidates having to communicate with and appeal to a broad coalition of voters."

Don Budinger,

Director

As one of the founders of the Rodel Foundations, Don serves as the chairman of the board of directors of Rodel Arizona as well as a board member for Rodel Delaware. He is also Founding Director and former Chairman of Science Foundation Arizona, founding Chairman of College Success Arizona, a founding board member of Tucson Values Teachers, Emeritus Board Member of Stand for Children and currently serves on the board of Basis Charter Schools. He is a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership, Southern Arizona Leadership Council, and the O’Connor Institute Advisory Group. Don is also a Lifetime Member of the Arizona State University President’s Club and as well as a Trustee of ASU. Don has been recognized as a “Distinguished Associate” by the Morrison Institute for Public Policy. The O’Connor House presented him with their Community Leadership Award and he was recognized by Teach for America as a “Homeroom Hero.” Children’s Action Alliance honored him with the Horace Steel Child Advocacy award; he also received a child advocacy award from the New Directions Institute.

Managing Partner, 4-D Properties, LLP; leads commercial
real estate business based in Tucson, AZ, focused on
investment, management and development. Over thirty years of diverse leadership in commercial real estate, congressional affairs, technology development, military aviation, intelligence, cyber security operations and policy &
law. Currently also serves as Director of Staff, Arizona Air
National Guard. Previous military assignments include Commander, Command Chief of Staff, Director of Operations/Plans and F-16/F-22 Pilot with two combat tours and 9/11 “alert scramble” mission over Washington D.C. Significant trial experience in Federal District Court and executive level experience in software development, intellectual property rights and new company start-ups

Patrick DeConcini,

Board Member

"People used to work together across the aisle. The system seemed to work… It dawned on me over the years that it's not enough to have good people run and that we have to reform the system."

Ted Hinderaker,

Vice President, Assistant Secretary

Ted Hinderaker practiced in the labor department at Gray, Cary, Ames & Frye in San Diego, California from 1981-83 and the litigation practice group at Streich, Lang, Weeks & Cardon in Phoenix, Arizona from 1983-85. Mr. Hinderaker acted as general counsel for a real estate development company from 1985-1988, has been a sole practitioner, and is a founding member of Hinderaker Rauh & Weisman, PLC. Mr. Hinderaker has extensive experience in the representation of local, regional, and national real estate developers and investors in all phases of the investment and development process. He represents primarily borrowers in connection with large lending transactions and advises small and medium sized businesses in connection with general corporate transactions and legal issues. Ted is also active in the Tucson community and a supporter of the University of Arizona, having served on the Board of Directors for the National Alumni Association, as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the University of Arizona Foundation, and as President of the Tucson Children’s Museum.

"Too many Arizonans have lost faith in our voting process, and that poses a true threat to our democracy. Instead of using partisan rhetoric to divide us, we should focus on problem-solving."

Beau Lane is a native Arizonan, a business leader, a strong conservative and a pillar of our community. After watching too many politicians deliver partisan rhetoric and spread messages of mistrust, Beau ran for Secretary of State to bring integrity, honesty, and transparency back into our electoral process. A graduate of University of Denver, Beau returned to Phoenix in the mid 1980s and immediately joined the family business, the advertising agency E.B. Lane. Beau prides himself on continuing the firm’s tradition of high business ethics, creativity, perseverance and unmatched integrity. After building the firm for nearly 20 years, in 2013 Beau led a merger with leading national digital marketing firm Terralever and formed Lane|Terralever. Since then, he and his business partners have successfully grown the business to now include a team of over 100 employees.

Beau Lane,

Director

Arizona State University alumnus Victor Flores’ work with APS and SRP led him to his current position as the Arizona-Mexico Commission executive committee treasurer. As treasurer, Flores monitors and approves expenditures, participates in AMC board meetings and attends summits.

Victor Flores,

Board Member

Meet Our Team Members

Jackie Salit President of Independent Voting	Fred Duval President of DuVal and Associates
Andrew Yang Former presidential candidate and co-chair of the Forward Party	Katherine Gehl Founder of The Institute for Political Innovation, author of the Politics Industry
Adrian Fontes Arizona Secretary of State	Thom Reilly Professor & Co-Director, Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy, School of Public Affairs
Humberto Lopez President, HSLopez Family Foundation	Heather Carter Greater Phoenix Leadership, Inc.
Chuck Coughlin CEO & President HighGround Public Affairs	Bob Worsley Former AZ State Senator
Stephen Richer Maricopa County Recorder	Patricia Welborn Education Forward Secretary
Edmund Marquez Chairman, Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce	John Giles City of Mesa Mayor
Nicole Barraza Director of Governance & Outreach, Southern Arizona Leadership Council.	Mike Hammond Founder - Cushman & Wakefield
Blake Sacha Voter Choice Arizona	Mike Cowley President - Cowley Companies
Jay Thorne Asst. VP Media Relations, Arizona State University	Scott Smith Former Mayor of Mesa
Arnott Duncan Chairman of the Board, Chief Agronomist, Duncan Family Farms	Rep. Ron Barber Former United States Representative
Kevin Moran Senior Director, Water Policy and State Affairs, EDF	Paul Boyer Arizona State Senate, LD 20
Paul Johnson Former Mayor of Phoenix CEO, Redirect Health	Chip Scutari Co-founder of S+C
Rex Scott Pima County Supervisor	Paul Brierley Executive Director Yuma Center of. Excellence for Desert Agriculture