Paula Ann Aboud

Biographical Information

Sen. Gabrielle Giffords resigned her seat on December 1, 2005 to run for a seat in the 8th Congressional District.  She was replaced by Paula Aboud who was sworn in as Senator from District 28 on January 9, 2006 ("Giffords quits state Senate to pursue Kolbe's seat."  Arizona Daily Star, December 2, 2005, "Supervisors appoint Aboud to Giffords'seat."  Arizona Daily Star, January 4, 2006; Journal of the Senate, 47th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session, 2006, list of members).  The following is from ALIS for the 50th Arizona State Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2011):

Paula Aboud
Minority Whip  
Democrat  District 28
Senate
1700 W. Washington
Room 314
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone Number: (602) 926-5262
Fax Number: (602) 926-3429 
Email Address: [email protected]
Home City: Tucson
Occupation: Semi-Retired; property manager
Member Since: 2006
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Legislative Achievements:
I have served in the Senate since Jan. 2006 in the seat vacated by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.  I proudly serve on three standing committees and most especially as the ranking Democratic member of the powerful Appropriations Committee.  I also serve on the Health Committee and Education Committee.  I have served on Higher Education Committee and Commerce and Economic Development committees.  In addition, I have been selected to serve on the JCCR and JLBC Committees, the Joint Committee on Capitol Review and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. 

In 2009 – present: I was chosen as one of two legislators to serve on the Making Opportunity Affordable Grant Team that has worked with the regents, business community, universities & community colleges to write a Lumina Foundation Grant to bring more affordable baccalaureate degrees to Arizona to meet the demand for a more educated workforce.

Education:
I graduated from Tucson High School and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Arizona with a major in English.  Upon completion of master-level education courses, I received a Certificate of Teaching in Arizona and taught English and coached state championship teams at Rincon High School in Tucson.  Subsequently, I became a licensed real estate agent in Tucson.  Later still, I became a trained mediator through the American Arbitration Association and a trained Life Coach from the Coaches Training Institute of Berkeley, California.

Professional Experience:
I enjoyed working for 7 years as a high school English teacher at Rincon High School in Tucson, Arizona for 7 years while coaching the state championship volleyball teams and the girls’ tennis teams.  Desiring to pursue a family tradition reflecting a love of real estate, I became a licensed real estate agent in Arizona and specialized in residential properties for 5 years.  When the opportunity arose to resume my coaching career at a higher level, I relocated to Maine to become a college tennis and squash coach at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, for 7 years.  A family illness prompted my return to Tucson where I assumed the role of property manager for my family-owned business.  I was fortunate to be selected State Senator by the Pima County Board of Supervisors to replace outgoing Gabrielle Giffords.

Political Experience:
In Tucson I have been involved in my neighborhood association and co-founded the Ward III Neighbors coalition of neighborhoods.  I helped to rebuild the Democrats of Greater Tucson group serving as their president for 3 years.  I simultaneously worked to help rebuild the Pima County Democratic Party, serving as vice-chair of the County Party and my legislative district, as well as serving on several county committees

Skills & Training that Senator Aboud brings to the Legislature 
As a graduate of the University of Arizona and a third-generation Tucsonan, I am committed to maintaining the quality of life for Arizona residents and especially for Southern Arizona.  I bring a strong and powerful commitment to build a stronger, more effective Democratic Party organization in Southern Arizona that will elect folks to the Legislature who will stand up for S. Arizona. As a former high school teacher and coach, I bring a strong advocacy to the Arizona State Senate in support of a stronger, better-funded public education system for the state.  My effectiveness in advocating for universities, women, children, seniors and my many other constituents has been augmented by my leadership skills from my coaching days.  Compromise is a huge aspect of working in the Legislature and my mediation & life coaching skills have proven invaluable.  My business background and sound fiscal advocacy contributed to my effectiveness in helping to negotiate the State budget in a bipartisan special committee in 2008 along with the Senate President who was from Southern Arizona.

Education

Bachelor Arts: English, University of Arizona 1972.

Employment

Arizona Legislative Service

Sources

Birth: Project Vote Smart; Occupation: 2008 Guide to the 48th Legislature (green book) Education: ALIS, 50th Arizona State Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2011)