Holly Lyon, a Democrat and retired U.S. Air Force colonel, is running for the Arizona House of Representatives in Legislative District 17, alongside incumbent Democratic Rep. Kevin Volk.

Republican Rep. Rachel Keshel is seeking another term and is joined on the GOP side by John Winchester, a government relations manager at Arizona State University.

Legislative District 17 wraps around Tucson's north and east sides, stretching from Rincon Valley and Tanque Verde through Oro Valley and Marana to SaddleBrooke in southern Pinal County. Republicans hold a roughly 10 percentage point voter registration advantage in the district, one of the few in the state with split representation in the House.

Lyon began her career as a seventh-grade math teacher before serving 26 years in the Air Force, where she commanded twice, taught future military leaders and oversaw education, training and strategic planning for tens of thousands of service members. She previously ran for the Legislature in 2014 and 2018, losing her 2014 House bid to Republicans Mark Finchem and Vince Leach in the district's predecessor, LD11.

Tucson Spotlight asked all the candidates their positions on groundwater regulation, affordable housing and public school funding.

Outside of the state's Active Management Areas, groundwater pumping in rural Arizona remains largely unmeasured and unregulated.

"The state has failed to enforce existing water resources safeguards like the requirement for developers to demonstrate a 100-year assured water supply," Lyon said, adding that meaningful reforms have been stalled by legislative leadership. "If Arizona does not take proactive steps now to manage water more responsibly, we risk federal intervention and broad restrictions that could severely impact our economy and our people," she said.

Lyon said her top priority would be bringing together local governments, water experts, agriculture, industry and community stakeholders to advance reforms including rural groundwater management areas in critically stressed regions, statewide pumping reporting and metering for large users, and enforceable pumping limits in overdrafted basins.

"Water policy and economic policy cannot be separated," Lyon said. "Sustainable growth requires sustainable water management, and Arizona must lead on this issue rather than letting this looming crisis lead us."

Housing affordability is another top concern for district voters, with rents rising across the Tucson region and affordable stock in short supply.

"Housing affordability has become one of the defining economic challenges facing Arizona families," Lyon said. "In Tucson and across LD17, too many working families, young professionals, and seniors are being priced out of stable housing, either for sale or rent."

Lyon said local communities should keep the flexibility to address their own housing needs, but that the state has a responsibility to remove barriers and support long-term affordability.

She said she would lead collaborative efforts on solutions including limits on corporate home buying, a state affordable housing tax credit, permitting reform, infrastructure improvements to make affordable and workforce housing possible, and expanded workforce homebuyer assistance programs.

On education, Lyon said strong public schools are essential to Arizona's future and strengthen the state's economy by developing a skilled workforce and attracting high-quality employers.

"While funding alone will not solve every challenge in education, we cannot expect schools to succeed without making serious investments in students, teachers, and classrooms," Lyon said.

She said she supports increasing the base level formula for school funding, improving teacher recruitment and retention through more competitive compensation, and restoring fiscal transparency to the Empowerment Scholarship Account voucher program.

"We need a long-term commitment to accountable educational excellence for every child, regardless of their zip code," Lyon said.

Neither party faces a contested primary for the district's two House seats in the July 21 primary.

Caitlin Schmidt is Editor and Publisher of Tucson Spotlight. Contact her at caitlin@tucsonspotlight.org.

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