Around the Districts Podcast

Public school districts in Arizona confront severe budget cuts and universal ESA voucher expansion. In this episode, we sit down with Franklin Zyriek, candidate for the Kyrene Elementary School District Governing Board. A product of Norte, Waggoner, and Kyrene Middle School, Zyriek returns to his home district to deliver policy discipline, fiscal accountability, and structural defense for neighborhood classrooms.

We examine the closure and consolidation of district schools, the fight to keep public facilities in community hands, and the statutory limits of state school finance. Zyriek details how intergovernmental alliances protect public assets from private acquisition, how to conduct early community outreach, and why workforce pathways in the skilled trades alongside supervised AI literacy prepare students for modern economic realities.

Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/franklin-zyriek-kyrene-part1

== Learn more about Franklin Zyriek ==

The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

The 2026 election cycle is here. Down-ballot school board races decide where administrative policy collides with households. In part two of our conversation with Kyrene Elementary School District Governing Board candidate Catherine Peters, we expose the physical grind of local campaigns in summer heat and the urgent need for parent voices on the board.

We examine the daily routine of families, the gap of active parent voices on the governing board, and the way strong public schools protect property values and local commerce across Ahwatukee, Tempe, and Chandler. Board votes dictate family stability. Direct community presence forms an essential barrier against administrative neglect.

Watch to discover how Catherine Peters organizes to return neighborhood voices to the board table.

Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/catherine-peters-kyrene-part2

== Learn more about Catherine Peters ==

The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

In part one of our conversation with Kyrene Elementary School District Governing Board candidate Catherine Peters, we expose the human cost of school consolidation, bus transport gridlock, and the financial strain universal ESA vouchers impose on public districts in Arizona.

We explore how local parents step into boardrooms to demand direct public access, open committees, and transparent decision-making before school closures occur. From protecting vulnerable students to preserving integrated academic pathways, parent representation serves as a vital barrier against systemic failure in neighborhood schools.

Watch to learn how grassroots parent organizing reshapes community governance across the Kyrene district.

Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/catherine-peters-kyrene-part1

== Learn more about Catherine Peters ==

The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

Independent voters represent Arizona's fastest growing political group, yet state election law forces nonpartisan candidates to gather six times as many signatures just to access the ballot. Closed primaries shut thousands of us out of decisive races, creating state and local governance that fails to reflect the electorate.

In part two of our interview with Voter Choice Arizona field director Kazz Fernandes, we examine how ranked choice ballots restore equal voting power, dismantle historical barriers for diverse candidates, and deliver representative local governance. Kazz breaks down the direct strategy behind the proposed May 2027 Tempe municipal initiative, debunks partisan myths surrounding election reform, and explains how local direct action breaks state legislative gridlock.

Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/kazz-fernandes-rank-choice-voting-part2

== Learn more about Voter Choice Arizona & RCV ==

The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

Chandler Vice Mayor Angel Encinas returns for part two of our conversation. Direct public access keeps municipal government accountable to residents. Angel maintains an open door policy and answers calls from constituents day and night.

When hot topic issues come before council, local leaders must put residents first. The Chandler City Council voted to reject a massive data center project and reinforced municipal codes to set strict guardrails for future developments. Local control ensures corporate applicants clear high environmental and operational hurdles before approval.

Angel also breaks down his work with the East Valley Partnership Board, his professional role as an immigration consultant, and how visible LGBTQ+ inclusion fosters safety across the city.

Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/angel-encinas-chandler-part2

== Learn more about Angel Encinas ==

The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

Systems engineer turned election reformer Kazz Fernandes joins Around the Districts to explain how open primaries and ranked ballots restore power to Arizona voters. Closed primaries lock independent voters out of decisive elections and hand control of public policy to extreme partisan bases.

Kazz details how Voter Choice Arizona uses direct neighborhood education, local cookoff elections, and municipal ballot measures like the Tempe initiative to demystify election reform. By shifting state rules to Final Five voting, candidates must earn broad consensus across communities rather than launch personal attacks.

Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/kazz-fernandes-part1

== Learn more about Kazz Fernandes & Voter Choice Arizona ==

In this second installment with Chandler City Councilmember Jane Poston, we examine how Chandler adapts as available land reaches 94 percent capacity. Councilmember Poston outlines a smart infill strategy to convert older commercial centers and closed school sites into entry-level workforce housing for young families, teachers, and firefighters.

We explore how Chandler launches its own emergency medical response service through the fire department and fights corporate equipment monopolies on the National League of Cities Public Safety Committee to protect city budgets from sky-high fire truck costs.

We also detail municipal technology guardrails, from resident privacy controls for Flock license plate readers to artificial intelligence policies in municipal courts and direct shelter teams for unsheltered residents.

Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/jane-poston-chandler-part2

== Learn more about Jane Poston ==

The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

Here’s part 1 with Chandler Vice Mayor Angel Encinas. Raised in the heart of downtown Chandler, he brings a lifelong connection to the families and streets of his hometown. 

We discuss his direct outreach in Chandler traditional neighborhoods, where he connects residents directly with police, firefighters, and municipal teams to secure street lights, speed bumps, and alley cleanups. He details how neighborhood roundtables transform residents into active partners who connect unsheltered individuals with city navigators to secure temporary shelter and permanent placement services. He also covers municipal support for first responder wellness, local student pathways into government, and how landlocked Chandler manages high-density redevelopment while preserving iconic downtown landmarks.

Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/angel-encinas-chandler-part1

== Learn more about Angel Encinas ==

Municipal decisions shape the immediate realities of our neighborhoods. In this episode, we sit down with Chandler City Councilmember Jane Poston to discuss her transition from municipal public affairs to write city policy. Poston leverages her  experience as a former twelve-year city employee and local small business owner to demand structural accountability.

We discuss how Chandler enforces some of the strictest land-use zoning laws in the country to protect community resources. The council recently rejected a massive data center due to water and power grid constraints, which sets a necessary barrier against unchecked corporate growth. Poston also breaks down how Chandler became the first Arizona city to fully eliminate its public safety pension debt. This fiscal strategy secures the city's AAA bond rating and frees up millions of dollars for immediate neighborhood services.

Watch to learn how Chandler partners with Arizona State University to fund the ASU Chandler Innovation Center, a shared space that teaches local entrepreneurs how to manage administration and launch successful brick-and-mortar operations.

Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/jane-poston-chandler-part1

== Learn more about Jane Poston ==

The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

Chandler transformed from a quiet farm town into a global economic hub. As the July 21st mayoral election approaches rapidly, the city requires leadership that understands this massive demographic shift.

In part two of our talk with Chandler mayoral candidate Matt Orlando, we examine the three pillars necessary for the future of the city. He prioritizes community safety, economic development, and quality of life. Orlando shares stories from decades of public service, highlights the impact of a diverse workforce, and explains why he gives his personal cell phone number to the residents.

Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/matt-orlando-chandler-mayor-part2

== Learn more about Matt Orlando ==

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The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.