Raúl Grijalva began his career in public service as a community organizer in Tucson. Four decades later, he continues to be an advocate for those in need and a voice for the constituents of his home community. From 1974 to 1986, Raúl served on the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board, including six years as Chairman. In 1988, he was elected to the Pima County Board of Supervisors, where he served for the next 15 years, chairing the Board for two of those years. Raúl resigned his seat on the Board of Supervisors in 2002 to seek office in Arizona’s newly created Seventh Congressional District. Despite a nine-candidate primary and the challenge of being outspent three-to-one by his closest competitor, Raúl was elected with a 20-point victory, thanks to a diverse coalition of supporters that led the largest volunteer-driven election effort in Arizona.
After selflessly serving our country, many veterans are not enjoying the healthy and secure civilian life they deserve. Efforts to improve health care coverage and benefits for our current and past service members must be strengthened. Now more than ever, we must provide for the men and women willing to sacrifice for their country. We can help ensure their health and prosperity by providing workforce training and reintegration programs, getting them timely access to their entitled benefits, protecting them from unscrupulous financial predators, and making sure their families have access to dedicated support resources.