Norma Munoz waited nervously in the County Attorney’s Office for the Maricopa county Board of Supervisors to approve her appointment to the recently vacated seat in Legislative District 27.
“I kept thinking, ‘what if they don’t pick me?’” Norma Munoz said.
The final vote was unanimous. Munoz was selected to fill the seat for the Legislative District 27. She was filled with joy and could not believe it. This is the first state position she had run for and Munoz was in awe.
The new representative’s family joined in her welcome to the House. After a short celebration and a tour of the building, she was dismissed to immediately begin her duties concerning a recent caucus. Munoz describes her first day as a “whirlwind” she was thrown into. Munoz is filling the seat vacated by Ruben Gallego when he resigned on March 13 to run for Congress in Arizona’s 7th District, in turn vacated after Ed Pastor’s retirement.
“I’ve been there so long, I believe it gives me the perspective needed to be a representative- roots of where you’ve been all of your life,” Munoz said. She has lived in the south Phoenix area for the majority of her adult life and has always been involved.
Munoz describes District 27 as the most diverse community in the entire state. She has been heavily involved in her community for years. Munoz serves as an elected governing board member for the Roosevelt School District for almost 20 years and has been reelected five times. Because the school board is not a paid political position, she is still able to hold her position in addition to her new role as a legislator.
“She’s extremely dedicated to education, and public service is a passion for her,” said Joseph Ortiz, director of public community relations for the school district.
Her goal is to improve diversity in the community, refining conditions that cause children to fall through the cracks so they are provided with the same opportunities. Other issues Munoz will work on in the district include education, economic stability and jobs and social justice.
At the age of 2, Munoz and her family immigrated illegally from Mexico to Arizona around 1950, but she eventually obtained citizenship. Her experiences helped her relate to the “Dreamer kids,” who were brought to the U.S. when they were young.
Munoz has five grown children, four sons and one daughter who also have children, bringing the total to 18 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
“Christmas isn’t easy,” she joked.
Munoz attended Phoenix Union High School followed by courses at South Mountain Community College and Rio Salado. She is currently taking online courses to complete her degree in public administration.
Munoz advises college students to not become discouraged with jobs post-graduation. Although it may not pertain to one’s degree, don’t be afraid to take any job. Jobs like waitressing will help gain perspective of the world, how it works and the different people who exist within it. The world is filled with lessons where one will be able to appreciate not only themselves, but also the diverse world we live in.
Initially, Munoz did not wish to run for a state position. When the opportunity arose, she thought about it but still had her doubts. After some encouragement, she decided to run and realized it was without a doubt a substantial choice.
Her assistant, Jasmine Snipes, said she absolutely loves working for Munoz because she’s so kind. Even though she was “whipped around” during her first week dealing with the budget, she has been getting the hang of things. “I love this place,” she said.
A co-worker told Munoz that the chaos of her first week was abnormal, but it did not make a difference to Munoz. Sitting in a bare office, she anticipates adding character to the white walls of her new work environment. She is satisfied with her final decision to run but has no aspirations for a higher position.
Contact the reporter at Brittney.Daigneau@asu.edu.
