Ashley Federer, High School Honors Student

Ashley Federer, a junior honors student at University High School, is Gabrielle Giffords’ supporter of the week. Ashley, 15, spent her entire summer volunteering in our campaign headquarters. She’s been enthusiastic about politics since she was ten years old, and she finds Giffords to be a woman she can look up to. “She’s a strong, independent woman,” Ashley said. “She cares about people. She’s a great role model.”

Ashley was born in Bermuda, and has lived in California and upstate New York. She became fascinated with politics during the 2000 New York Senate race between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rick Lazio. She’s interested in politics because of the potential to change people’s lives for the better. “It directly affects everyone in our nation,” Ashley said. “So you have to be interested in it if you care about your life.”

Ashley and her parents moved to Tucson in 2001. She decided to get involved in the CD-8 race when her AP Comparative Politics teacher at University High School talked to the class about Jim Kolbe’s retirement and how important this Congressional race is.

“I did some research on the internet,” Ashley said. “I saw some articles about Gabrielle. Because she was the only one with legislative experience, I decided to get involved with the campaign for the summer.”

Ashley went to Giffords’ web site and clicked the “volunteer” button. A representative of the campaign called her back, and she started working at the office. She quickly became enamored with campaign life, particularly calling potential voters to tell them about why she supports Gabrielle. “I love talking to voters,” she said. “You can make a connection with people — a genuine connection. You meet so many amazing people. It’s like taking the pulse of the country. You find out what’s important to people. You can connect to it.”

Ashley appreciates Giffords’ positions on the issues, particularly on health care, due to her own life experience. “My dad was transitioning between jobs, and we went without health insurance for a while,” Ashley said, adding that her parents had to pay $1,000 per month for her prescriptions when they were without health insurance. “I really appreciate that Gabrielle wants to have health care for all children. It’s not right when people have to decide if they’re going to eat or take medication. It’s a tragedy when parents have to choose between medication for their kids and medication for themselves.”

Ashley’s enthusiasm for Gabrielle convinced her father to change his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat. Her mother is an Independent, but both parents will be voting for Giffords. “My parents decided to support her when they found out that she sponsored the mental health parity bill,” she said, referring to the bill that Gabrielle sponsored that would have required insurance companies to cover mental illnesses as part of their health insurance.

“I like the fact that she is an independent person,” Ashley said. “She’s a strong, independent woman. She’s a great role model. She defies the stereotype of politicians. She cares about people.”

Ashley is interested in become a criminal defense attorney, or practicing international or trade law. But she doesn’t know for sure. “Maybe I’ll become a political analyst and have my own TV show,” she says.

At school, she is involved in Mock Trial and Model U.N., and is also part of the UHS Theater stage crew. She’s also trying to set up a Young Democrats chapter at the school.

When she’s not campaigning for Gabrielle Giffords, Ashley talks to her friends on the phone, plays video games, and goes to the mall.