Daniel Valenzuela Launches New Ad “Cancer”

Ad highlights Kate Brophy McGee’s fight against firefighters with cancer from getting the critical help they need

Phoenix, AZ – Cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters. As Chairwoman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, then-Senator Kate Brophy McGee had an opportunity to support firefighters battling cancer who were caught in bureaucratic red tape. Instead of providing the help they needed, Kate Brophy McGee turned her back on these men and women and opposed them at every step.

The ad features Bryan Jeffries, former president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona and former Phoenix City Councilmember, who led the fight to secure critical support for firefighters and police officers diagnosed with cancer.

Background:

In 2017, Jeffries played a key role in passing occupational cancer reform in the Arizona legislature. Despite the clear intent of the original legislation, insurance companies and healthcare providers continued to create barriers to care for public safety professionals with cancer. Jeffries, who also contracted occupational cancer, was determined to lead a bipartisan effort to close the loopholes blocking access to care for his brothers and sisters in the fire service during their most vulnerable moments.

Senator Brophy McGee, who served as Chairwoman of the Health and Human Services Committee at the time, refused to meet with the group to discuss their concerns. She chose big insurance companies over firefighters battling cancer. It wasn’t until after Brophy McGee lost her re-election bid to now-Senator Christine Marsh that the group succeeded in 2021.*

Transcript:

Bryan Jeffries:

“I spent thirty years as a firefighter. Every emergency call has the potential for danger, but nothing prepared me for the call from my doctor. He told me I had cancer.

Cancer is the leading cause of death for firefighters, and I wanted to do something about it. I led a bipartisan effort to secure critical protections for occupational cancer.

Kate Brophy McGee fought us every step of the way. For County Supervisor, Daniel Valenzuela is the only choice.”

About Daniel Valenzuela:

Daniel Valenzuela, a recently retired firefighter with 20 years of dedicated service and a former two-term Phoenix City Councilmember, has the full support of the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona and the Arizona Police Association in his bid for Maricopa County Supervisor.

*Senate Bill 1451 (2021)

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