You are here: / / FACPAC
MCCFA LogoMaricopa Community College Faculty Association

The Faculty Association and Recent Legislation

/in ,

Faculty Colleagues, Good Morning,

Over the weekend, we learned that Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed SB1068, a bill that would have allowed guns on campus and prevented any governing board from enacting rules limiting concealed carry, storage, or transport of firearms. I have attached Governor Hobbs’ letter to this email. As noted in her letter, the governor has vetoed similar legislation twice in the past. Mike Bielecki, the Faculty Association’s Public Affairs representative, shared the faculty perspective with the governor’s office prior to her veto, including the results of our recent survey.

Governor Hobbs has also vetoed other legislation that would have had a negative impact on the work we do, including legislation that would have impacted academic freedom and limited the faculty role in shared governance. Thanks to the Faculty Association’s members, we have been an engaged voice at the state level. Without dues-paying members, we don’t have an association attorney, public affairs representative, political consultant, accountant, or officers.

The Faculty Association continues to work in the interests of our faculty membership. As our work becomes more challenging and the obstacles seem stacked against us, our collective voice makes all the difference. This veto didn’t happen by accident; it was a focused effort. This is just one more example where belonging to the Maricopa Community College Faculty Association has a meaningful impact; join us.

Best Regards,

Matt Jolly

Maricopa Community Colleges Faculty Political Action Committee FacPACMCCFA FacPAC

FacPAC Governing Board Endorsements 2026

/in

Dear Faculty Association Members,

We are excited to announce the Faculty Political Action Committee (FacPAC)’s endorsements for the 2026 Maricopa Community Colleges Governing Board elections.

The Candidates

This election cycle includes three open seats, and we’re thrilled to endorse excellent candidates for each.

District 3

We are proud to endorse long-time businessman Bill Sandweg. Bill and Ginger Sandweg co-founded Copper Star Coffee in the Melrose District in 2006, and Bill has been an active advocate for small business and the local economy. He has served on multiple city commissions focused on supporting local businesses and strengthening community engagement. Bill has also taken creative writing classes at Phoenix College. His daughter is an alumni of our dual enrollment program, and he is deeply invested in the role Maricopa Community Colleges play in creating pathways for students and families. Bill makes quite an impression, exudes energy and optimism, and will be a tremendous asset to our colleges when he wins in November.

District 4

We are thrilled to endorse Donna Davis for re-election. As a military spouse, Donna taught reading to airmen and preschool on various airforce bases around the world. Her commitment to Arizona youth is evident in her work with youth employment, her fundraising for the Future Farmers of American (FFA), and her non-profit work with Education Forward Arizona. Donna currently chairs the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism. During her time on the MCCCD board, Donna actively engaged the community on the importance of passing Prop 486, the successful initiative to modernize the expenditure limitation that was make-or-break for the future of our colleges. She’s been a consistent supporter of the colleges, and we’re excited to help Donna get re-elected to the board!

At-Large

FacPAC enthusiastically endorses Judy Schwiebert, a true champion of public education in Arizona and a former state representative for Legislative District 2. Raised by an educator, Judy became a teacher herself and taught for 27 years at Greenway and Cactus High School. During her tenure in the Arizona Legislature, Judy worked tirelessly to improve public education, sponsoring legislation in a bipartisan fashion on adult education, teacher salaries, and mental health support in schools. Judy also serves on the Paradise Valley Community College President’s Council and is already well acquainted with the Maricopa Community Colleges. Judy impressed us with her depth of knowledge on statewide education policy, and her enthusiasm for improving education in our state. She joins our slate of candidates with a strong commitment to making college affordable and accessible for all students in Maricopa County.

How You Can Help

We’re excited to have three strong candidates for the 2026 election, and we need your help to make it happen! This work only succeeds when faculty show up and get involved. We ask for your support in any way you are able. Please watch for a follow-up email with more information about how you can get involved. We’ll share next steps and opportunities soon.

Thank you for your time and your continued advocacy for the Maricopa Community Colleges.

In solidarity,
FacPAC

Maricopa Community Colleges Faculty Political Action Committee FacPACMCCFA FacPAC

Two Down, One to Go!

/in

TWO EARLY VICTORIES!

On Monday, 25 July, the candidate who was hand-picked by Jean McGrath to replace her withdrew from the Governing Board race because he could not defeat our challenge of his petition signatures.  Donna Davis is now the de facto winner in District 4!

In District 3, you were able to help us collect enough signatures to ensure that Marie Sullivan was safely on the ballot, and no other candidate was willing to challenge her.  Thus, we have won two of three races for Governing Board before balloting even began! 

All this means we can reasonably expect a 6-1 education, student, and faculty-friendly Governing Board!  This is a far cry from only four years ago when the Governing Board, led by Laurin Hendrix, canceled Meet and Confer and tore up the RFP.

These early victories were secured by the herculean efforts of our staff and faculty volunteers (and their families) who answered the call.  They endured late nights and hot mornings gathering signatures.  And a specially trained group spent long hours reviewing signature petitions to ensure our candidates could not be challenged off the ballot in November.   

While our early victories are sweet, we cannot be complacent.  Let’s send a strong message to those who would dismantle our community college system by electing a 7- 0 Governing Board. 

Thank you in advance for your support, your participation in putting up signs for Kelli across Maricopa County, and for stepping up when volunteers are needed.  We do this together for our students, our faculty and staff colleagues, and for MCCCD.

Barry F. Vaughan
FacPAC Chair

Maricopa Community Colleges Faculty Political Action Committee FacPACMCCFA FacPAC

Thank You and Next Steps

/in

A very big THANK YOU to all those who stepped up to brave the heat, spend valuable time, drive long distances, and talk to neighbors to ensure we have great Governing Board candidates on the ballot. Because of your efforts, we reached our goal and submitted over 1500 signatures for each of our three candidates!  It is always important that we reach a minimum of 1500 signatures, not just the minimum legal requirement of 1000; it ensures that a candidate will survive a petition challenge if one is brought. Additionally, Marie Sullivan has no challengers and is the presumptive winner! All through collecting signatures. While we have cleared the first hurdle, the race is far from over!

Next Steps

We fully recognize that not everyone is suited, or able, to collect signatures. But, we have a broad spectrum of talent among our members. We are calling on you to take the baton and clear the remaining hurdles so we cross the finish line in November.

We need fresh volunteers to finish the work that remains:

  • Reviewing signature petitions of opposition candidates (We have this covered and will share news regarding this soon! Thank you!)
  • Posting signs for candidates at intersections
  • Literature drops (putting door signs in District neighborhoods)
  • Canvassing for candidates (going door to door to provide info and solicit votes)

Emails will be coming soon from FACPAC to ask for your help with these specific tasks. Please answer the call when it comes. We need everyone to join in the race!

Again, a BIG thank you to those who helped gather signatures: You Are Heroes!

Barry F. Vaughan
FacPAC Chair

Maricopa Community Colleges Faculty Political Action Committee FacPACMCCFA FacPAC

Signature Update

/in

We are very close to having all three of our Governing Board candidates on the ballot.  Please help get them across the finish line!   

We’ve set a pace that will reach our goal, but we must maintain our momentum or we could fail.  We need you to help us ensure that we capitalize on everyone’s efforts and get Marie Sullivan, Donna Davis, and Kelli Butler on the ballot.

Will you help?

With only TWO weeks left, we need volunteers to give just one hour outside libraries in District 3 (Marie Sullivan) and District 4 (Donna Davis).  It’s easy:  volunteers just ask patrons who are visiting the library if they would be willing to sign the nominating petition to get these non-partisan, education-friendly candidates on the ballot so that voters have good choices in the fall.  Their signatures on the petition are all we need to get our candidates on the ballot.

Directions:

  1. Go to our “sign-up” page.
  2. Sign up for a slot to gather signatures.  Encourage a friend to join you and fill both slots!
  3. We will provide a table and chairs, petition sheets, pens, and water for the volunteers and collect the sheets at the end of the session.  You just need to show up!
  4. If you have questions or need to submit signature sheets that you’ve gathered, please call for assistance.

Can’t make the scheduled time but want to do your part to put Marie and Donna on the ballot? Why not spend an hour or so at a library when it’s convenient for you?  Here are some great places to show up and gather signatures for Marie:

And for Donna:

If you already have petitions with signatures – even a single one – please put them in the mail NOW (520 E. Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282).  Make sure you have filled out the back of the petition before you put it in the mail.

Thank you for your support!

Barry F. Vaughn
FacPAC Chair