ABOUT DEBORAH

During my childhood, my parents emphasized the importance of a strong sense of public service. Both served in WWII. My father put his college education on hold to join the conflict as a fighter pilot. My mother enlisted as soon as she finished her nursing education. Their paths crossed on Okinawa near the end of the war and married once both were stateside.

After earning my degree in public policy from U.C. Berkeley, I embarked on my career in advocacy, starting out in Washington D.C. as, believe it or not, a Republican.  My professional journey led me through various sectors: I contributed to government agencies, non-profit organizations, private companies, and also worked as an independent consultant.  On the federal, state, and local levels my expertise spans several domains including healthcare policy, defense and trade, real estate policy, tort reform, and the intricacies of electoral politics, among others.

In the midst of my growing career, I married Dave Howard. However, 20 short years later I faced profound loss when I was widowed—losing my best friend and what felt like my center of gravity.

In 2017, I relocated to Arizona. The following August, I received an invitation to join the Peace Corps as a community volunteer in Madagascar—a call to service that I was eager to answer. However, a couple of months later, while securing health clearances, I encountered an unexpected turn: I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

This news ushered in a new chapter of my life dominated by medical interventions including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. After a challenging five-month battle, I completed my final chemotherapy session in February 2019.

Since my recovery, I've devoted myself to political activism to staunchly defend our cherished freedoms and the democratic system we hold dear. In 2021, I managed nearly 100 volunteers as the leader of the Indivisible Statewide Redistricting Team to champion equitable districting.

I pledge to be a leader who listens. I will leverage the wealth of knowledge and insights gained from both my career and personal life to seek out common ground, foster collaboration, and identify viable solutions that benefit us all.