AZ Political Podcast: JoAnna Mendoza brings ‘servant leader’ approach to congressional bid

As a gunnery sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, JoAnna Mendoza considered herself a “servant leader.” Now, she wants to lead by serving in the U.S. House of Representatives — which will only happen if she’s leading Juan Ciscomani after the votes are counted.

Mendoza, the Democrat challenging incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Ciscomani in Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District (CD6), is my guest this week on the AZ Political Podcast. During our time together, she drove home the concept of being a servant leader by hitting me with the Latin phrase “Ductus Exemplo.”

Ductus Exemplo, the motto of the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School, where Mendoza was a drill instructor, translates to “leadership by example.”

Considering Democrat Ruben Gallego and Donald Trump, a Republican, both won CD6 in 2024, Mendoza will have to lead through the example of working well with others.

One example Mendoza has set for women who may find themselves in unhealthy relationships is something that’s made her a single mom of a 10-year-old boy: “Early on during my pregnancy I made the choice that I would remove myself from a not-great situation with the biological father of my son.”

Even though she believes it “was the right choice,” it was a tough choice that led to some tough times.

“The hardest thing that I’ve done is raise a boy, is, is be a mom and I’ve done hard stuff before.” That hard stuff, by the way, includes one combat tour in Afghanistan and two in Iraq — which involved a stint at Al Asad Airbase, where I was an embed in 2006.

Mendoza says her top priority will be to lower costs because she believes that people in CD6 are “suffering right now and it is absolutely painful and heartbreaking to watch.”

So how does she plan to put “money in their pockets” — as she puts it? Is she considering income subsidies? “No, I’m not. I’m talking about rolling back tariffs… and then let’s reinstate SNAP and Medicaid.” And she wants fraud, waste and abuse of government programs to be part of the conversation.

“Let’s tackle that (fraud), making sure that the people who actually need these programs have access to them. Let’s work with the governor. Let’s work with the state legislature to, you know, get that fraud and abuse out of there but also reinstate the program.”

Tall orders indeed. And in order to have a shot at ever filling them, Mendoza has to win in one of the most competitive congressional districts in the country.

But don’t put anything past a Marine Corps gunnery sergeant. Tall orders are their specialty (taking and giving). And accomplishing tough tasks (like winning CD6) is just another day at the office for a Marine.

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