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Why I'm running for the Arizona State House in LD2

 

I can’t remember the last time I was excited by my voting options.

Political discourse has descended into an us-against-them mentality and the major parties have encouraged it. Our problems in Arizona remain, not because they are unsolvable, but because parties need them as a wedge to rally their base to vote. They punish lawmakers for working in a bipartisan way, even at the expense of their own voters, to prevent the other side from having a "win".

Members of the "other" party aren't enemies to be vanquished. They're men and women that a majority of their constituency elected to be their voice in the political process. Everyone being heard is the very essence of democracy.

I am committed to running a positive and principled campaign.

I believe that by focusing on the issues that matter most to Arizonans, and by working with lawmakers from all parties to find common ground, we can create a brighter future for our state.

We need leaders who bring people together to solve problems with respect and cooperation, rather than division and hostility. We deserve a government where all Arizonans can have their voices heard and their concerns addressed, regardless of political affiliation.

If elected, I will be accountable only to the people of Arizona, not beholden to a particular party, and I'll work with whoever I need to, regardless of party, to tackle the problems that face us and address the issues relevant to Arizonans.

 

Help Me Qualify for Arizona Clean Elections Funding

I am participating in Arizona’s Citizens Clean Elections program, which is designed to reduce the influence of large donors and allow candidates to run campaigns funded by the community they serve.

To qualify, I must collect 200 qualifying contributions of $5 each from registered voters. These are not traditional campaign donations. They are small, one-time contributions required by state law to demonstrate community support so that my campaign can receive public funding and remain accountable to voters—not special interests.

Please consider donating $5 at the following link:

https://apps.azsos.gov/apps/election/eps/qc/

THE ISSUES

 

Protecting Consumers in the Digital Age

Serving in the legislature requires addressing a wide range of issues that affect our state and our communities. Among those responsibilities, one area stands out as a central focus for me: ensuring that individuals are protected as technology evolves faster than the laws designed to govern it.

For more than 30 years, I have worked in the software industry. I have seen firsthand how rapidly technology can advance—and how easily powerful tools such as artificial intelligence can be used without transparency or accountability when left solely in the hands of large organizations. Innovation brings tremendous benefits, but it must be balanced with clear safeguards that protect privacy, fairness, and individual control over personal information.

That is why, on day one, I will introduce the Consumer Digital Bill of Rights — legislation designed to establish common-sense protections for people interacting with modern technology. This proposal ensures that Arizonans know when they are being analyzed by AI, when their data is being used to influence pricing or decisions, and that they retain the right to access and delete their own information.

Technology should work for people — not the other way around. This legislation is about transparency, informed consent, and restoring balance between consumers and the systems that increasingly shape daily life.

Read the full bill here:

Consumer Bill of Digital Rights

 

I will also introduce the Arizona Consumer Protection Act. This legislation creates an independent Consumer Protection Board dedicated to monitoring emerging business practices, enforcing consumer rights, and ensuring that Arizonans — not large institutions — remain in control of their personal information and marketplace interactions.

The goal is simple: modern protections for a modern economy.

Read the full bill here:

Establishment of Arizona Consumer Protection Board

 

ABOUT ME

 

Tom Simes
 

I was born and raised in Council Bluffs, Iowa. My father was a city bus driver and my mother, a nurse.

I began my career path writing, recording and performing as a professional musician.

I then switched gears and earned a degree in eBusiness and for the next 25+ years, I worked as a software engineer for companies like Hewlett Packard and Compaq.

I'm currently the owner of a successful comedy club here in the Valley.

I've lived in the Moon Valley area of North Phoenix for more than 14 years with my wife Linda, who works in the nonprofit sector. We're the proud parents of one daughter who graduated from Northern Arizona University.

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