Dozens of voters turned out Wednesday evening for a rare chance to stand face-to-face with the candidates running to represent them in the state Legislature, with no podium, no microphone and no moderator between them.

Tucson Spotlight, Arizona Luminaria and Press Forward Southern Arizona hosted the meet-the-candidates event at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona campus, bringing together candidates from Legislative Districts 17 and 20 for an informal, voter-driven forum.

"Politics can often feel distant or disconnected from daily life, but local and state decisions impact our schools, neighborhoods, businesses, healthcare, environment, and future," CFSA CEO Jenny Flynn told attendees. "Tonight is about connection. It's about creating space for community members and candidates to meet face-to-face, ask thoughtful questions, and have real conversations about the issues shaping Southern Arizona."

All registered primary candidates in LD17 and LD20 were invited, but four candidates who are also elected officials were called back early for budget negotiations and had to withdraw from the event, including LD17's Kevin Volk and LD20's Alma Hernandez, Sally Ann Gonzales and Betty Villegas. All four were encouraged to send representatives in their place.

Voters were directed to separate rooms based on their voting district, where candidates had their own tables set up with stickers, pamphlets and other materials. Candidates sat or stood just feet from the people who would be voting for them, making for genuinely personal conversations.

Among those in attendance were LD17 Senate candidate Edgar F. Soto, LD17 House candidates Holly Lyon and John Winchester, LD20 Senate candidate Rocque Perez, and LD20 House candidates Ben Kohler, Genoveva Diaz and Katherine Weasel.

"It's very easy to connect to the candidates in this kind of personal environment," said Bella Brezovec, a voter in LD20. "I don't think you always have the opportunity to literally stand there and chat with each of the candidates. Usually, they're at a podium or something, like a big audience. This is a very intimate setting."

Another LD20 voter, Maura Raffensperger, echoed those sentiments.

"I like the fact that it's open to all of the candidates," she said. "It gives us a chance to actually have conversations with people, even if they aren't necessarily the ones that we will likely vote for."

Diaz, a Democrat who is running in LD20 alongside Hernandez and Gonzales, enjoyed the event, saying she was eager to share details about her career with voters and get a deeper understanding of their concerns.

She likened it to a door knock in reverse, with voters coming to the candidates instead of the other way around.

"I love it. People have been very curious," Diaz said.

Weasel, a write-in Republican candidate in LD20, said she appreciated the opportunity to engage with voters in a relaxed setting.

"Usually, there's always contentious things going on," Weasel said. "I think it's an absolutely charming thing to do."

Weasel said several people warned her away from the event because of her party affiliation.

"When it comes down to it, we're all people, and we all live in the same community," Weasel said.

LD17 voter Linda Jackson said she received a voter guide in the mail listing the candidates but was drawn to this format.

"I thought I could come and speak to them directly … and hear a little bit more so that I'm a little more informed about who I'm voting for," Jackson said. "I'm hoping that it's going to be helpful as far as just meeting some of the candidates and them telling me their story, their backgrounds or what have you. I don't know any of the candidates very well except for what I read in (the voter guide.)"

Jackson, a former union business representative, said voting has been a priority since she moved to Tucson in 2018, when she went straight to the MVD to register.

"I'm still not real connected as far as politics, I do vote, but I'm learning," Jackson said. "Being here today is just helping me grow a little bit more in regards to Arizona's political arena."

LD20 voter Jennifer Arenas-Cardenas said she appreciated being able to talk to all the candidates and learn more about their platforms and why they decided to run.

Arenas-Cardenas said she was surprised to learn that at least two candidates had teaching experience, which resonated with her as someone who has worked in public education.

Her message to voters who didn't attend:

"You missed out."

The sentiment was shared by the event's organizers.

"We believe strong communities are built when people have access to reliable information, opportunities to participate, and spaces where every voice matters," Flynn said. "Democracy works best when people show up, participate, and stay informed."

Quentin Agnello is a University of Arizona alum and freelance journalist in Tucson. Contact him at qsagnello@gmail.com.

Diana Ramos is a University of Arizona alum and Tucson Spotlight reporter. Contact her at diana@tucsonspotlight.org.  

Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible donation.