Maria Mazzeo Syms[2] (born January 10, 1968) is an attorney, American politician and a former Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives elected to represent District 28 from 2017 to 2019. Since 2023, Syms has served as the Associate Superintendent/Director of Legal Services for the Arizona Department of Education. She has also served as Assistant Attorney General of Arizona, Town Council Member in Paradise Valley, Arizona and Assistant United States Attorney in California.
Maria Syms | |
|---|---|
 Syms in 2024 | |
| Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 28th district | |
| In office January 9, 2017 – January 14, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Kate Brophy McGee |
| Succeeded by | Aaron Lieberman |
| Member of the Paradise Valley Town Council | |
| In office 2015–2017 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Maria B. Mazzeo[1] January 10, 1968[1] Port Jefferson, New York[1] |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mark Syms |
| Residence | Paradise Valley, Arizona |
| Profession | Attorney |
Elections
edit- 2016 – With incumbents Kate Brophy McGee and Eric Meyer both running for the state senate, Maria Syms and Mary Hamway defeated Kenneth Bowers, Matt Morales and Alberto Gutier in the open District 28 Republican Primary.[3] Syms and Democratic candidate Kelli Butler defeated Republican Mary Hamway in the general election.[4]
- 2014 – Syms was elected to the Paradise Valley city council, receiving 1,827 votes.[5]
- 2012 – Syms ran for Mayor of Paradise Valley, Arizona, losing to incumbent Mayor Scott LeMarr.[6][7]
Career
editAs a State Representative, Syms sponsored and passed legislation strengthening criminal penalties and helping crime victims. [8] [9]Syms’s signature legislation requires universal rape kit testing that helped clear a backlog of more than 6000 untested kits that resulted in prosecution and convictions in many cold cases. [10]Syms served on the State House Juduciary/Public Safety, Health and Commerce Committees. Syms was named Champion of Small Business by the National Federation of Independent Businesses for her work in cutting government regulations. [11]Syms was also recognized by the American Federation for Children as an advocate for school choice.[12]
Since 2023, Syms has served as the Associate Superintendent /Director of Legal Services for the Arizona Department of Education. Syms argued on behalf of the Department before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the Arizona Save Women’s Sports Act precluding transgender athletes from participating on middle school girls sports teams. [13] Syms also served as an Arizona Assistant Attorney General, where she successfully prosecuted drug prescription fraud.[14] Syms also argued before the Northern District of California to allow the State to pursue an investigation into the illegal sale of fetal tissue remains.[15] Syms served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California under President George W. Bush. In 2014, Syms was elected and served as a Town Councilwoman in Paradise Valley, Arizona where she also served as Chair and member of the Paradise Valley Planning Commission from 2003 until 2013.[16] Syms served as a Judicial Clerk/Staff Attorney to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Syms also served as an Instructor/Adjunct Professor at ASU Law School and University of Hawaii Law School.
Early Life and Education
editSyms grew up in a working class family on Long Island, New York. She is the daughter of the late Pasquale Mazzeo, an immigrant barber from Italy and Joyce Mazzeo (nee Keunzler), a retired elementary schoolteacher. Syms received her bachelor's degree in political science from Smith College in 1989, her Juris Doctor degree from American University in 1992 and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University in 2014. [17]She is a member of the bar in Arizona, California and Hawaii.
References
edit- ^ a b c Hubbell, Martindale (April 2000). Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory: Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho (Volume 7 - 2000). Martindale-Hubbell. ISBN 9781561603763.
- ^ "Maria Mazzeo Syms Profile". Martindale-Hubbell.
- ^ Pitzl, Mary Jo. "Phoenix- area Arizona legislative races to watch in 2016". Azcentral. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
- ^ "State of Arizona Official Canvass 2016 General Election November 8, 2016" (PDF). Phoenix, Arizona: Secretary of State of Arizona. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
- ^ "Resolution Number 1317 - A resolution of the mayor and council of the town of Paradise Valley, Maricopa County, Arizona, declaring and adopting the results of the primary election held for mayor and town council on August 26, 2014". Town of Paradise Valley website. 2014-08-26. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20.
- ^ "Paradise Valley's 1st mayoral election heats up". azcentral.com. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
- ^ "Paradise Valley rejects measure to change mayor election again". azcentral.com. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
- ^ "Family pushes for new law after AZ mom's death". ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix (KNXV). 2018-02-14. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ Goldsmith, Lonny (2018-06-28). "The Enduring Legacy of Allison Feldman". TC Jewfolk. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ "Rep. Syms leads charge to close gap of untested rape kits statewide - Daily Independent". The Daily Independent at YourValley.net. 2017-01-27. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ https://www.azleg.gov/press/house/53LEG/2R/171220SYMS.pdf
- ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2024-09-10.[unreliable source?]
- ^ Gomez, Gloria Rebecca (2024-03-16). "Appeals court weighs implementing Arizona's trans student athlete ban". Arizona Mirror. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ Garcia, Mia (May 6, 2016). "Arizona Wins Court Victory in Medical Marijuana Act Lawsuit". www.azag.gov.
- ^ Fischer, Howard (September 29, 2015). "Arizona Seeks Court Support for Fetal Tissue Probe".
- ^ "Maria Syms - Candidate for LD 28 House". Market Freedom Alliance. 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
- ^ "House Member". www.azleg.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-10.