Mark Brazier

Mark Brazier, a semi-retired father of three, is Gabrielle Giffords’ Supporter of the Month for October. “I’ve always wanted to get involved in politics,” Mark said, explaining that retirement has allowed him extra time to volunteer frequently. “I really like Gabrielle. I voted for her and just wanted to support her more.”

A native of Chicago, Mark earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Arizona State University. After finishing college, he moved to Tucson in 1981 for a job with Hughes Aircraft Company, which later became part of Raytheon. His last position was working on the product development and program management processes for Honeywell Aerospace.

Mark has had a life-long interest in politics. “My parents got me involved at a young age. My mom was a social studies teacher, so she engrained in me the importance of government and voting,” he said. Gabrielle’s performance in Congress has impressed him, so he decided to volunteer on a campaign for the first time.

The need for new energy sources concerns Mark. He believes energy issues are at the root of many other problems facing the country, and cited it as one of the reasons he supports the Congresswoman: “I really like her strong commitment to alternative energy, especially solar.” Mark commented that Gabrielle has the abilities to deal with these tough issues. “She appears to be a very smart person and communicates in a positive, constructive manner,” he said.

Mark has two sons in college and a daughter in high school. He is active in his retirement, spending much of his time golfing, running, and swimming. He also participates in the stock market and recently started playing drums in a local unnamed rock band.