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"A collaborative political resource." |
RyanForArizona
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USER DETAILS |
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| Screen Name | RyanForArizona |
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| Name | Ryan Starzyk |
| Location | Phoenix, , |
| Email | info@ryanforarizona.org |
| Birthday | November 25, 1982 |
| Affiliation | Democratic |
| First Login | February 04, 2020 03:05pm |
| Last Login | February 04, 2020 03:12pm |
| Predictions |
Points: 0.0000
Predictions: 0/0 (0.00%)
Points Per: 0.0000/0 (0.00)
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| Messages Posted |
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| DISCUSSION |
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FIGHTING FOR A BETTER FUTURE
"It took me several years and a lot of therapy to get back on my feet."
The Veterans Affairs hospital was vital in making this happen. I am grateful for them and all the dedicated public servants who assisted me through this troubling time. My partner of over 12 years, Ivan, was also there every step of the way, supporting, loving, and helping me through these challenges. Eventually, I managed to get to a better place, finishing my Bachelor’s degree in 2012. To me, this was a monumental achievement, and I wanted to keep going. So I did. Ivan and I moved to Arizona in 2012, right after we both finished our Bachelor’s degrees. We built a family with two dogs (Zeus and Munchkin). We had a desire for a better life, more economic opportunity and to achieve our Master’s degrees. We did. Both of us graduated from Arizona State University (ASU) with a Masters (Ryan: Masters in Legal Studies & Ivan: Masters in Visual Communication Design). Arizona is our home, and we love it so much. Nothing about this was smooth, and yes, we had our challenges from time to time (who doesn’t)?
NEXT CHAPTER
In 2016, I started to feel as though something was missing. So I went back to school (again, glutton for punishment) for my Doctorate in Business. To say this was a challenge would be an understatement. But it was a selfish goal, motivated by a desire to learn more ways I can help our our community. In 2017, I joined the Phoenix Pride Board of Directors and took over as the Chair, Education & Outreach Committee. Three years of managing our community grant and scholarship program opened my eyes to so much in life. In December 2019, it was an honor to accept Vice President of Phoenix Pride and Chair, Board Development Committee. Seeing the positive impact, hearing the stories, and seeing the change made me want to do more. All of 2018 was a year of deep self-reflection, doubting myself, asking my partner and friends the big question of “What’s next for Ryan?” This is where I started to realize running for office and serving the whole community is that next step. Because I want to do more, make a more significant impact, and help as many people as possible. Ivan and I also added a new member to our family and adopted a little kitten named Archie (he grew up so quick!).
WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR?
I stand for authenticity, recognizing that I am an imperfect human being surrounded by imperfect human beings. I stand for acknowledging my mistakes and doing better not to make them again. I stand for integrity first, service before self, and always looking for ways to help my community. I stand here as someone who is taking the biggest risk in my life by running for public office because I believe in my heart, we can, must, and will do better for our community.
My Commitment Is To You: Nothing is more rewarding than meeting with people and listening. I have learned so much about the real struggles people continue going through, and this drives my heart to keep going.
Real Leadership: Being an elected official means your accountable to voters only. Nothing else matters except the people you are representing. The authentic leadership we once saw is gone, but not lost. It is about time we bring it back.
I Will Promise This: What you see is what you get. I will never put on an act or change who I am. I will always fight to help our community become stronger, more resilient and better than it is.
Believe In A Better Future: I proudly and honorably fought for you in the military, I hope you will allow me the honor and privilege to continue doing so in public office as your next State Senator.
- Ryan A. Starzyk -
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PTSD
Post-military life was nothing short of an adventure, one that I will never forget. I struggled with severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), nightmares, waking up in cold sweats, and felt angry all of the time. I struggled with substance abuse during this period, and recognize the importance of having someone there to help you through such a tumultuous experience. I was very lucky, so may are not. This is what continues to drive my passion and why I will never give up fighting for you.
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WHERE I COME FROM
My name is Ryan Alexander Starzyk, born November 25, 1982, on Thanksgiving day in Hartford, Connecticut. I grew up in a few places, none of which I really called home until now. Naugatuck, CT, was where it all started. I lived in a light green-house on the top of a big hill. I remember this hill because one day running down it, I fell and split my leg open on a rock. I was trying to catch a bus to school that day but failed miserably. The local neighbors were all a bit stuck up, but I will never forget Mr. & Ms. Cone who lived around the corner. They were an older couple, very friendly, always welcoming and gave me a ride home from school a few times when they saw me walking down the road. My parent’s house went into foreclosure, and we moved in with someone who was a total lunatic. He had significant anger management issues and would literally throw couches looking for a spoon. We lived in Oxford, CT, during this period with him before eventually moving again to North Carolina.
My grandparents purchased a house they claimed was for retirement. Sadly, they never retired there and we ended up living in it instead (until they both died and my aunt sold it out from under us). North Carolina was an interesting place. I went to high school there, the same one Michael Jordan went to and was in Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). I loved being in ROTC. I didn’t feel like I fit in anywhere else, so this worked at the time. After high school, I moved up to live with my uncle in Jersey City, NJ. He lived on the bottom of a hill with his very rude and mean spirited wife. She would SCREAM at the top of her lungs nearly every morning over something such as a tissue being in the trash. She also called me “Boy,” which drove me up a wall. But I dealt with it since it was where I was living at the time. She had this ardent mission of “outing” me as being gay.
Eventually, she succeeded because I got fed up with being asked or pressured. Finally one day I just said it “Yes, I am gay, so what?” Years later, my uncle and aunt divorced (not much of a shock honestly). I joined the military while living in Jersey City because frankly, I needed to get away from it all. I didn’t much care about the lifestyle challenges at the time, because I figured it would be “DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL.” Unfortunately, I was wrong about this assumption. I didn’t tell, but a lot of people felt the need to ask, spread rumors and bully me nearly every day. During my time in the service, I was deployed to Iraq a few times. One thing I did learn is that I hated being yelled at and eventually moved on in 2007. The military was the best and worst experience of my life and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
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RYAN IS READY TO FIGHT FOR YOU
Policy Positions
LGBTQ+
As a lifetime member of the LGBTQ+ community, there is still a lot of work to do. There is no question that each and every person should be treated with dignity and respect. I do identify as a gay male and know what it is like to feel marginalized. We must put a stop to racial, gender, sexual orientation, and all other forms of discrimination. Treatment of Transgender members of our society is unfathomable. I know many fantastic, hard-working, and dedicated transgender members in our community and do not look at them any differently than anyone else I know. They are human beings, like you, like me. We all have our differences, but still share the common purpose of being human first. Protecting transgender rights is TOP-PRIORITY. Ryan has a serious policy plan to address inequality in Arizona. Click Here to read more.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change is real. We must address it, but first have elected officials that understand the reality. Renewable energy is good for the environment and better for economic growth. Solar & wind generated power can create good paying jobs right here in Arizona. Ryan has a policy plan to boost our presence as a leading solar energy producer. Arizona is one of over 20 States that has not joined the United States Climate Alliance. As your State Senator, Ryan will advocate for Arizona to join this alliance and make sure we do what is best for us on a State level to address this global emergency, create jobs and help protect our environment for future generations. Ryan signed the #NoFossilFuelPledge "Taking the pledge means that a politician and their campaign will adopt a policy to not knowingly accept any contributions over $200 from the PACs, lobbyists, or SEC-named executives of fossil fuel companies — companies whose primary business is the extraction, processing, distribution, or sale of oil, gas, or coal." Numerous candidates are also taking money from APS, the fossil fuel dependent utility. Click Here to see who takes money from APS.
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
A woman's right to choose should not be up for debate. Women have the right to make choices about their own health care just as men do. This is why I have signed the Pro-Choice Pledge and feel very strongly about the importance of not interfering with anyone's ability to make their own independent choices. Click Here to read the pro-choice pledge Ryan signed.
RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP
Too many innocent people have died and will continue to without comprehensive changes to gun policy. Background checks have bi-partisan support. Arizona elected officials continue to ignore this. Ryan has a three-point policy plan to address the epidemic of gun violence. Click Here to read more.
MONEY IN POLITICS
We all agree there is too much money in politics. Between 2013-2019, record amounts of money were spent on elections in Arizona. This is why Ryan is running as a Clean Elections candidate to show the people of Legislative District 24 that money cannot buy democracy or him. The Arizona Secretary of State shows how much money each candidate received from special interests and PACs. See for yourself who takes money from big corporations. Click Here to see how many candidates in Arizona are taking from corporations.
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RYAN IS READY TO FIGHT FOR YOU
We Must Do Better
In 2019, Arizonans received over $18 billion in tax exemptions and preferential tax treatments. As your next State Senator, Ryan will push to use that money for Education, Mental Health and Veterans.
VETERANS
Veterans Deserve Better.
Veterans need us, over 200 Veterans take their own lives every single year in Arizona. 22 every single day nationwide. Ryan will advocate for our Veterans to have the support and services they need in order to be successful by increasing outreach programs and doubling the number of benefit counselors. Our Veterans served this country, we must take better care of them. Ryan is ready to address these issues with a bold and comprehensive four-point policy plan to help support Arizona Veterans. Click Here to read more.
EDUCATION
Education Creates Opportunity.
We need to stop teaching our kids a test and start delivering education that prepares young people for tomorrow’s jobs and helps build businesses that boost Arizona’s economy. Ryan will advocate for smaller class sizes, teacher assistants in every classroom and increased funding for our schools to make sure we set ourselves up to be a national education leader. Ryan is ready to advocate for comprehensive and ambitious changes with a six-point policy plan. Click Here to read more.
MENTAL HEALTH
Mental Health Matters.
Having someone to talk to can make a profound difference, it did for Ryan. He will firmly advocate to make sure every Arizonan has the ability to see a mental health professional. Almost 200,000 people in Arizona suffer from serious psychological distress. We must do better to support our fellow citizens and provide mental health services to everyone. Ryan is ready to address these issues with a bold and comprehensive five-point policy plan to support Arizonans. Click Here to read more.
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ABOUT ME
Putting My Experience to Work for You
EXPERIENCE
Ryan resides in Central Phoenix with his partner of over 12-years and is active in his local neighborhood and community. From 2003-2007, Ryan served honorably in the States Air Force and was decorated for meritorious service while on deployment in Iraq as a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ryan is a proven business and community leader, with a substantial background in management, analysis, research, and strategic planning.
Ryan’s previous experience includes work in the legal profession, as well as professional experience in the hospitality industry. Ryan serves on the Phoenix Pride Board of Directors as the Vice President and Chair, Board Development Committee. Ryan’s passion for public policy and his experience as a combat Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces have led him to a desire to continue his public service in the Arizona Senate fighting for you.
EDUCATION ADVOCATE
Ryan holds a master’s degree in Legal Studies from Arizona State University and finishing a doctorate in Business Administration from Georgia State University. Education changed Ryan’s life, and knows how vital it is for our future generations.
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"I am a passionate candidate for State Senate that wants to make Arizona a better place."
Campaigns are won by the people who vote for a candidate they believe in. I am the candidate you can believe in and will fight tirelessly for you. Legislative District 24, let's MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER.
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