EDS: Cronkite School students profiled candidates for Phoenix City Council and the Maricopa County sheriff race. You can find all the profiles here. 

By Didi Mariz
Special for Cronkite News

• Candidate name: Marcelino Quiñonez
• Political affiliation: Democratic Party
• Position sought: City Council member for District 7
• Age: 40
• Career: Educator

Marcelino Quiñonez is running for Phoenix City Council’s District 7 seat. His priorities include fostering economic growth, increasing the amount of affordable housing and ensuring that the community is safe and thriving.

Before his political career, Quiñonez, the son of Mexican immigrants, grew up in south Phoenix. He was the first in his family to go to college, obtaining bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theater from Arizona State University. Quiñonez has an extensive career in education: He taught in south Phoenix, was elected as a Roosevelt Elementary school board member and was the director of educational outreach and partnerships at Arizona State University. In 2022, he was honored with ASU’s Martin Luther King Jr. Staff Servant-Leadership Award.

Quiñonez was a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, where he served on the Military Affairs & Public Safety and Natural Resources, Energy & Water committees.

Quiñonez said his background in education prepared him for the role.

“I think teaching and governance go hand in hand,” he said. “My training as a teacher has taught me that it’s really about asking questions, understanding where people are coming from and how they arrived at that place, and then trying to identify collaboratively what we can all do together to get to the next goal.”

Gitta Honegger, his former professor at ASU, described him as hard worker and enthusiastic. She recalled his sense of community building.

“He has a great talent, especially with the grad students who were hesitant to participate or who had a problem or didn’t understand, to bring them along,” she said. “He also was very good at bringing in students of color, not just Latino, but Black students. He made sure that he explained them to me, I guess he translated them to me. On the human side, he is a person who cares.”

Quiñonez has done two political-themed plays, “Dear Senator,” with the late former Attorney General Grant Woods, where he had the role of a progressive Latino activist; and “El Che,” in which he played the revolutionary “Che” Guevara. He said that it was one of the most beautiful moments of his life.

“It showed how two people from polar opposite sides of the political spectrum could still come together and do what’s best for their country, how through dialogue and through collaboration, you can advance ideas,” he said.

Honegger believes that Quiñonez will benefit from his years on stage.

“When you act with somebody, you learn the psychology of people. So the training for him was perfect, too, and you have to be a performer in politics,” she said. “I’m so proud of him.”

Immigration, infrastructure and constituent service

The interest in politics dates back to his school years.

“When I was in the eighth grade, I read a book on President John F. Kennedy, and I was immediately struck by his idealism, his vision of the country, his idea of the new frontier, and asking people what we could all do for each other, as opposed to what people could do for us. It taught me that things happen when people come together.”

Quiñonez’s political pursuit is also tied to his experience as an immigrant.

“I was born in Mexico, and I’ve had the blessing of growing up in this country,” he said. “My parents, because of where they grew up, were only able to earn an elementary school education. Their five children now have six degrees to their names. Our family has been able to accomplish the American dream, and I think public office is a way to ensure that I’m not the last person to accomplish that.”

He acknowledges that immigration “is an emotional subject for a lot of reasons” and adds that we have to recognize it as a federal issue.

“We have been talking for a long time about comprehensive immigration reform, because we have a number of individuals who happen to be in this country undocumented,” he said. “Many of these individuals are hard working. They have families here, they’re contributing members of our society. I think it’s time that we have a serious conversation that is devoid of politics, and that really works on the policy to make sure that folks can live in this country without fear.”

The Professional Firefighters of Phoenix have endorsed Quiñonez’s campaign.

“Our relationship with Marcelino goes back to his time in the Arizona state Legislature. He was an advocate for firefighters and our issues. He was always an active participant in helping us try to get some things done through the legislative process,” said Tim Knobbe, vice president of political affairs for the association.

Knobbe said Quiñonez helped rectify the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System and create more tiers for firefighters. He was also an advocate for the expansion of the Craig Tiger Act, which provides counseling to firefighters and police officers for post-traumatic stress.

“He was helpful in expanding that to also be available for dispatchers in Arizona,” Knobbe said. “We know that he’s going to be an advocate for all the people in his community, especially on the subject of public safety, making sure that fire trucks and police cars can respond to people’s emergencies in a timely, effective way.”

Quiñonez saw firsthand the need for action on housing and homelessness issues. He has served as a director of youth outreach for St. Vincent de Paul, an organization dedicated to feeding, clothing, housing and healing the needy.

The candidate mentioned transitional housing, affordable housing units, low income housing tax credits and financial literacy courses as possible solutions. He also accentuated the importance of guaranteeing a path forward and mental health access for these communities.

“It’s a multilayered effect,” Quiñonez said. “We need to bring in as many neighbors as possible to the conversation. We need to look at all of those approaches, all of those ideas, and see how they can engage with each other.”

He added that one of the pillars of his campaign has been constituent services.

“I have gone to many doors, I’ve spoken to many neighbors, I’ve listened to people. For me, it’s about making sure that those of us who are in these privileged positions can lend a hand and can serve as a bridge to our community at large,” he said.

Why should he be elected?

“I believe in the process. I believe in the system. I’ve been very fortunate in my life because this country has afforded me every opportunity imaginable. It’s allowed me to live the American dream. I am committed to making sure that I’m not the last one,” Quiñonez said. “Take part in the democratic process by voting. If you can’t vote, and I’ve been in that situation myself, then help somebody vote.”

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