2024 Debate Schedule

Jacob Hylton

Biography

Jake Hylton's entrepreneurial spirit took root early. As a child, he spent seven years immersed in his mother's successful small business focused on restaurant management and consulting. This firsthand experience shaped his understanding of customer service, operations, and leadership. Throughout his twenties, Jake explored his passion for the arts. He then found himself drawn back to the world of business, cutting his teeth in the fast-paced environment of startups and gaining valuable experience before launching his own venture in residential housing. For the past six years, he has led The Jake Hylton Team with Retro Real Estate, helping first time buyers find security through homeownership.

Recognizing a desire to give back to his community, Jake transitioned his leadership skills to a new challenge. He became the Founding Executive Director of LOOKOUT, a groundbreaking nonprofit that fills a critical gap in Arizona's media landscape. As Arizona's only LGBTQ+-centric news organization, LOOKOUT provides in-depth reporting, features, and investigations. LOOKOUT empowers Arizona's queer communities to be informed, engaged, and politically active.

Districts Covered:

Legislative District 24

Jim Nintzel

Biography

Jim Nintzel is a member of the Report for America corps working as government and political impact reporter for the TucsonSentinel.com, an online news agency based in Southern Arizona. Prior to joining the Sentinel, Nintzel spent more than three decades as a reporter and editor with Tucson Weekly, covering politics, science and rock ’n’ roll. He has been named a journalist of the year by the Arizona Press Club and the Arizona Newspaper Association and has won more than 50 state and national awards for his work. He has previously worked for the local PBS affiliate, hosting a weekly political roundtable, and has appeared on CBS, ABC, CNN and other national news networks as well as various NPR affiliates. He taught government reporting at the University of Arizona Journalism School for more than 15 years.

Districts Covered:

Legislative District 23

Kiera Riley

Biography

Kiera covers the courts and education for the Arizona Capitol Times and writes daily news items for the paper's political tip sheet, the Yellow Sheet Report. Before joining the Capitol Times, she covered state politics for the Arizona Republic and worked as a freelance news reporter for the Phoenix New Times. Kiera is a 2022 Hearst Journalism Awards finalist and recipient of the organization's Article of the Year award. She earned her bachelor's from ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism in 2022.

Districts Covered:

Legislative Districts 8 & 28

Kyle Backer

Biography

Kyle Backer covers Arizona's commercial real estate industry and economic development as Associate Editor of AZRE magazine — a publication of AZ Big Media. A second-generation Arizona native, Kyle lives in North Phoenix with his wife and two dogs. In his free time, he enjoys listening to podcasts on history and current events, riding his motorcycle and trying out new restaurants in the Valley.

Districts Covered:

Legislative District 10

Camryn Sanchez

Biography

Camryn Sanchez is an award-winning reporter with KJZZ’s Politics Desk covering everything to do with state politics. Prior to joining KJZZ, Sanchez worked for two years at the Arizona Capitol Times covering the state Legislature, with a focus on the Arizona Senate. She also interned at the East Bay Express, Yonkers Times and Arizona Republic. This is Sanchez's second election season moderating legislative debates for the Citizens Clean Elections Commission.

Districts Covered:

Legislative Districts 14, 15, 25 & 29

Steve Goldstein

Biography

Steve Goldstein has served as an award-winning radio host and reporter in Phoenix for 25 years. His work has featured discussions about a broad variety of topics, and his passion for politics and elections has led to regular conversations with elected officials from both major parties. Goldstein has been a regular on-camera contributor to local TV political affairs programs.

Districts Covered:

Legislative Districts 2 & 5

Wayne Schutsky

Biography

Wayne Schutsky is a reporter on the Politics Desk at KJZZ. He has over a decade of experience as a journalist reporting on local communities in Arizona and the state Capitol. Schutsky previously contributed to the Arizona Capitol Times and edited the Yellow Sheet Report, an insider tip sheet focused on Arizona politics. His byline has also appeared in NPR, the Scottsdale Progress and the East Valley Tribune. Schutsky's coverage has received recognition from the Arizona Press Club and the Arizona Newspapers Association.

Districts Covered:

Legislative District 22

Dan Shearer

Biography

Dan Shearer is the editor of the Green Valley News and Sahuarita Sun, and is editorial director for Wick Communications, with publications in 13 states. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona, has worked at the Palm Springs Desert Sun and The Arizona Republic, and is a regular on two Tucson radio programs.

Districts Covered:

Legislative District 21