Legislative District 12, which covers Ahwatukee in Phoenix, south Tempe and west Chandler. Current State Senator Mitzi Epstein has decided not to run for reelection, letting two new Senate candidates step up.
While she is not new to the district or the legislature, Patty Contreras is running for State Senate after 3 years as a Representative.
Before her time as a political figure, Contreras worked for the City of Phoenix for over 30 years as part of the Parks and Recreation Human Resources team.
Contreras has sponsored dozens of bills in her time at the legislature and is a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure and Health and Human Services Committees in the State House.
Conteras and her wife live in Ahwatukee with their children and grandchildren close by.
Anthony Ramirez is an attorney and former police officer running as an Independent for the district.
His top issues include improving traffic and infrastructure, improving education through vocational training and workforce readiness and expanding affordability from housing to tax codes and small business provisions.
In 2020, Ramirez represented the owner of a Wickenburg diner after she opened her dining room to the public before the state and town of Wickenburg allowed businesses to do so.
In his free time, Ramirez likes to skydive and ballroom dance.
Madeline Bates joined Independent Newsmedia in 2025 as a Phoenix/Tempe reporter. Before graduating college, she spent a semester in Washington as a Congressional reporter in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. But local news is where her heart is. She is excited to be in Phoenix full time and exploring new parts of the city (as long as they have AC).
Community: After living in East Phoenix for two years, she fell in love with Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, and everywhere in between. She recently discovered the beauty of the South Mountain Reserve and hopes to continue exploring should the weather comply.
Education: Madeline has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a certificate in Political History and Leadership.
Random Fact: She is a self-taught nail tech. No, she cannot do your nails.
Hobbies: Hiking (when its not 100 degrees), fiction writing, cooking, baking and trying new coffee shops.
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