Arizona Politics: Battling dirty tactics and smear campaigns

In the latest episode of the Modern Divorce Podcast, host and attorney Billie Tarascio welcomes Lalani Hunsaker, a first-time political candidate running for the Arizona State House in Legislative District 14. As a party outlier running on the Republican side, Lalani kicks off the conversation explaining why local residents are seeing controversial campaign signs featuring an unflattering personal photo, used without her consent, and clarifying her role in public policy rather than lobbying for the American Leadership Academy (ALA). 

Lalani reflects on her early political experience as an intern and later a staffer for Senator Harry Reid. Despite her lifelong Republican stance, she recounts her valuable learning experience working for a Nevada Democrat and addresses how her opponents have misrepresented this part of her history. Lalani expresses her commitment to addressing local issues such as safety, border security, and water resource management, emphasizing her goal to bring common sense solutions and fresh conservative leadership to the Arizona State House.

Lalani elaborates on her candidacy, mentioning her 19 years of residence in Gilbert and her decision to run as a Republican for an open seat in the district. With early voting starting at the end of June and the primary election on July 30th, she emphasizes the importance of voter participation, particularly since all candidates in her race are Republicans, making the primary election a decisive event. 

The conversation delves into Lalani's background with ALA, addressing accusations and smear campaigns related to her professional affiliations and her time working in public policy. She refutes claims of being a lobbyist and discusses her role in implementing a kindness campaign across ALA campuses to combat violence and promote safety among students. This initiative involved collaboration with local law enforcement, school administrations, and student bodies to create a supportive and safe educational environment.

For more information about Lalani and her campaign go to VoteLalani.com.