Suanne Edmiston

Non-Partisan | Arizona

Ballotpedia

Candidate Profile

Phoenix #1 Elementary School District Governing Board, 2-Year Seats (vote for two) Arizona General | November 3, 2026

Conservative

BIOGRAPHY

EDUCATION

Regent University School of Law, Virginia Beach, VA, J.D., 2007-2009

The George Washington University, Washington, DC, B.A., 2002-2006

WORK & MILITARY

State Freedom Caucus Network, State Director in AZ, 2023-2026

The United States House of Representatives, Chief Legislative Counsel and Deputy Chief of Staff (last position held), 2012-2023

AFFILIATIONS

Phoenix Elementary School District (PESD) # 1, Governing Board Member, 2025-2026

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Phoenix Elementary School District (PESD) # 1 Governing Board Member, 2025-2026

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

Phoenix Elementary School District (PESD) # 1 Governing Board Member, 2026-2026

ENDORSEMENTS

CONSERVATIVE (1)

Arizona Women of Action PAC

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)

AZ Women of Action

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)

Alexander Kolodin (2025)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)

SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS

Complete list of candidate's Campaign Finance Reports can be found on the Maricopa County Elections website.

OTHER INFORMATION

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.

Strongly Agree

What role should the school serve in helping a student with an unwanted or crisis pregnancy?

Should a school find out about a student's pregnancy, the school should immediately notify the student's parents. It should also follow any mandatory reporting laws.


ECONOMY

Student loan forgiveness unfairly shifts the financial burden to those not responsible for student debt.

Agree

What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?

Government has a clear interest in ensuring that citizens are educated. However, there is also not endless funding to support Pre-K through college. If the system is working, then 13 years should be adequate to ensure an educated citizenry. Parents and students can determine what is best prior to and after K-12 and, as a general rule, those should be individual expenditures.


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

With regard to public schools, what does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

I do not think the historical understanding of "separation of church and state" is very relevant to public schools, least of all today. It protects against state coercion of religion, and that does not seem to be a serious concern in our schools. It certainly does not mean that student and school employees should have to leave their religious beliefs behind simply because they are at school.


IMMIGRATION

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enhances the safety and security of communities by identifying and detaining illegal aliens.

Agree


EDUCATION

Abortion and gender-affirming providers, including Planned Parenthood, should be a resource for instruction or services in the school.

Strongly Disagree

These are matters between a student and their parents. It is not appropriate for schools, or any government at all, to be inserting itself into such serious, life-altering matters.

Consequences for bad behavior create a safe and orderly environment, which is essential for student learning.

Agree

Educators should give students a thorough education in America's founding documents and cultivate American patriotism.

Agree

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Strongly Agree

If you support the teaching of Sex Ed, please answer the following question: Sexual education should include these topics (list all that apply and add your own, if needed) -- abortion methods and side effects; abstinence; consent; contraceptive methods; human anatomy/the reproductive system; physical and emotional health outcomes; sex acts and pleasures of sex; sexual orientation and gender identity; stages of pregnancy and fetal development

I do not really support the teaching of Sex Ed, as I believe this is a matter that should be addressed by parents in the home. To the degree such courses are taught, they should absolutely focus on human anatomy/the reproductive system; physical and emotional health outcomes; and stages of pregnancy and fetal development. These are in effect academic topics that fall under health and science. Parents always need to be notified and have the option to opt out.

Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): American History, Art & Music, Civics, Critical Race Theory, Foreign Language, Gender Identity, Information Technology, Language Arts, Mathematics, Personal Finances, Physical Fitness, Political Activism, Science, Sexuality, Social Emotional Learning, Vocational Learning

Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Foreign Language, American History, Art & Music, Civics, Information Technology, Physical Fitness, Personal Finances, Vocational Learning

Public schools should prioritize academic achievement and building character necessary to preserve American traditions and self-government.

Strongly Agree

School choice creates competition, and that competition will push public schools to improve their educational systems.

Strongly Agree


VALUES

Biological males should be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.

Strongly Disagree

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I follow Jesus Christ. I consider myself an orthodox Christian (small "o"). I learn a little more about following Jesus every single day and it constantly challenges to be conforming to him and is the greatest adventure. I value my faith and freedom so much, and everything and everyone whose hard work and sacrifice secured my ability to practice my faith openly and to live free. I also value independence, hard work and lifelong learning.

Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.

Strongly Agree

I support the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that people should be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.

Strongly Agree

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Strongly Agree

Mental health conditions such as anorexia and gender dysphoria need to be treated, not affirmed.

Strongly Agree

School library books that have literary value, as determined by experts, should be exempt from obscenity laws.

Disagree


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree


ABOUT YOU

Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.

No.

Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.

No.

I voted in these primaries and general elections:

Choose not to answer

I have only ever voted in Republican primaries and also general elections. I assume I voted in all the General Elections and most/all of the Republican Primaries, but I cannot say with certainty.

What political party are you affiliated with?

Republican

When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to immigration and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?

Very Conservative

By this continuum, I'm definitely considered very conservative. I have very strong social conservative views, but I also am extremely convicted in the absolute necessity of Constitutional limited government.


2ND AMENDMENT

Faculty who are licensed to carry and have had ongoing training should be allowed to carry guns at school in order to respond to an active shooter situation.

Agree

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