Tag Archives: Bruce Wheeler

Meet Our Candidates: Bruce Wheeler for State Representative, LD 10

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The Arizona primary election will be held on August 26, 2014, and early voting began on July 31. Reproductive health care access has been under attack, both nationally and statewide, but Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona has endorsed candidates who have shown strong commitment to reproductive justice. To acquaint you with our endorsed candidates, we are running a series called “Meet Our Candidates.”  Make your voice heard in 2014!

When we first interviewed Bruce Wheeler in 2012, he demonstrated his commitment to reproductive justice and access to family planning health care services. In 2014, he seeks to serve another term representing the the eastern Tucson region that is Legislative District 10.

In addition to a continued strong stance on reproductive justice, Mr. Wheeler has stressed issues such as public education and the problem of discrimination against the LGBTQ community as key issues in his campaign.

Mr. Wheeler took the time for an interview on August 4, 2014.

“Government and politicians have absolutely no right to dictate a woman’s most personal medical and health care decisions.”

How has your commitment to serving Arizona grown over the past two years? On the policy level, what has happened during that time to give you hope, and what has happened to strengthen your convictions?

I am more committed than ever because of critically important personal and policy issues at risk in Arizona. What has given me hope, in spite of horrible legislation proposed and passed, is that some of that horrible agenda has suffered setbacks due to public awareness and pressure, as well as a handful of significant successes by progressive legislators.

The passage of Medicaid expansion was transformative. We now have more than 330,000 Arizonans with health insurance who previously did not.

The defeat of SB 1062 was galvanizing not only for the majority of Arizonans, but nationally as well. The instant demand that this bill, which would have codified discrimination against our LBGT community, be vetoed succeeded in just that. Continue reading →

Meet Our Candidates: Bruce Wheeler for State Representative, LD 10

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The Arizona primary election will be held on August 28, 2012. With so many recent legislative challenges to reproductive health care access, both nationally and statewide, the importance of this election year can’t be overstated. To help voters, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona has endorsed candidates who have shown strong commitment to reproductive health and freedom. Along with those endorsements, we are running a series called “Meet Our Candidates,” spotlighting each Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona-endorsed candidate. To vote in the primaries, you must register to vote by July 30 — and can even register online. Make your voice heard in 2012!

[T]his edition of “Meet Our Candidates” focuses on Bruce Wheeler, who is seeking to represent Tucson’s Legislative District 10 in the Arizona House of Representatives for a second term. Wheeler graduated from the American High School of Quito in Ecuador, received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Arizona in International Relations in 1972, and later received his M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix. Additionally, he is the proud parent of two sons who graduated from MIT and Stanford and are now pursuing exciting and productive careers of their own.

“No one should interfere with a person’s right to make his or her own medical and health care choices.”

In various capacities, Wheeler has been serving Tucson-area residents for decades. In 1987, he was elected to the Tucson city council, where he served two terms. After that, he worked for the Tucson Airport Authority, from which he retired in 2006 after serving as the director of energy management.

On July 9, 2012, Wheeler shared his views on health care education, access, and empowerment in this exclusive interview.

What women’s health care issues do you think should be addressed in the legislature?

All women’s health care issues should be addressed by the legislature. Reproductive health care is the most controversial and I stand strongly for a woman’s right to make her own choices regarding all aspects of health care, including reproductive health care without interference from anyone or any institution or any law that interferes with that right. The right to choose is her own right. Continue reading →