Meet the Candidate - Yuma County Board of Supervisors District 1

Editor's Note: The Yuma Sun is spotlighting the candidates ahead of the Nov. 6 general election. Lenore Lorona Stuart is the Democratic candidate running unopposed for the Yuma County Board of Supervisors District 1.

Name: Lenore Lorona Stuart

Age: 66 years young

Office running for: Yuma County Board of Supervisors District 1

Family: Husband Jerry Stuart

Party: Yuma County Democrat

Education: Graduated from Immaculate Conception Grammar School, Yuma High (Criminals! yea), attended AWC and NAU and many leadership institutes

Employment: Yuma County Supervisor for District 1

To what organizations do you belong? I'm involved in many organizations, among those are: Immaculate Conception Grammar School Advisory Board, Yuma Fine Arts Association, Yuma County Historical Society, NAACP, Advisory Board Hispanic Leadership Institute, Yuma County Anti-Drug Coalition, Yuma County Employee Benefits Trust, Yuma Heritage (riverfront) Advisory Board, President-elect Yuma County Supervisors Association of Arizona, Raul Castro Institute Advisory Board, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Yuma Democrats

What in your past experiences helps qualify you for this seat? My many years of community involvement working with the citizens of Yuma and past 12 years as a member of the Board of Supervisors for Yuma County District 1.

If elected, what is the one issue on which you would focus to improve Yuma's quality of life? How? As an elected official, my priority will be in working with other elected officials to protect the funding that we have from the state so that we may continue to provide the services that are needed in our community.

What do you think is the biggest challenge right now facing Yumans, and how would you change it? Unemployment is one of the biggest issues facing many Yumans right now. I would advocate continuing to work with the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corp. in seeking new businesses and working with existing businesses to identify their needs. I would certainly advocate for making the county business-friendly and doing whatever we can to help achieve that.

What would you do to make government more accessible? Yuma County Government is very accessible. I myself am a full-time supervisor, citizens can reach me at the County and my home phone number is also listed, 928-783-5027. Yuma County has made every effort possible to reach out to the citizens of Yuma. Information is available through all the social media and we are constantly updating our means of access. Brochures are available regarding our budget and recently a brochure was developed explaining the tax process so all citizens have access to that process.

Who is your personal hero, and why? I have had many heroes in my life. First and foremost, my parents, Mary and Joe Lorona, who instilled in me the love of working in the community and reaching out to help others in need. My mentor would be my great-great-grandfather, Jose Maria Redondo, who helped build this community as a businessman, Territorial Legislator, County Supervisor and Mayor of Yuma.