My name is Brandy Reese. I’m a mother, a forensic scientist, and a lifelong education advocate.

Growing up, my parents instilled a strong work ethic, deep respect for education, and faith grounded in inclusivity.

As teen parents, they struggled to make ends meet – making every dollar stretch as they raised two children and built a better future for my brother and me. Nearly everything was secondhand or homemade: clothes, furniture, household goods. Its because of them that I know what true perseverance is. While I was pursuing my bachelor's degree, my mother earned her master's degree, the culmination of two decades of effort. Education was the tool that lifted my family and me out of poverty.

After I received my degree in Chemistry from the University of Oklahoma – I wanted to get to work creating a  better, safer world. For 14 years, I identified, collected, and analyzed physical evidence from crime scenes in the laboratory, working to take violent criminals off the street.  I provided expert testimony in countless courtrooms – always ensuring that the facts of the case were told accurately so that justice was served.

Now as a mother here in Arizona – I am working to ensure that my daughters have the same educational opportunities that I did. As an advocate for our schools and communities, I am running for office so that everyone is on a level playing field.