REFERENCE TITLE: Olivia Cajero Bedford; death resolution

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2022

HCR 2040

Introduced by

Representatives Cano: Abraham, Andrade, Barton, Blackman, Bowers, Burges, Butler, Chávez, Cobb, Cook, Dalessandro, DeGrazia, Epstein, Espinoza, Fernandez B, Griffin, Hernandez A, Hernandez D, Hernandez M, Jermaine, John, Kavanagh, Liguori, Longdon, Martinez, Mathis, Meza, Pawlik, Payne, Powers Hannley, Quiñonez, Schwiebert, Shah, Sierra, Solorio, Weninger, Senators Alston, Barto, Borrelli, Bowie, Boyer, Contreras, Fann, Gabaldon, Gonzales, Gowan, Gray, Hatathlie, Kerr, Marsh, Otondo, Pace, Petersen, Quezada, Rios, Shope, Stahl Hamilton, Terán

A Concurrent Resolution

on the death of the honorable olivia cajero bedford.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Arizona Senator Olivia Cajero Bedford, a longtime legislator and community activist, passed away on February 9, 2022.

A proud daughter of the Old Pueblo, Olivia Cajero Bedford was born on August 15, 1938. Her parents, Bernardo "Nayo" Cajero and Carmen Cajero, were heavily involved in local politics and community causes, and Olivia was raised to be an activist. When Bernardo ran to represent the south side of Tucson in the legislature in 1966, Olivia was a key part of his campaign and, after his election, she went on to help in his efforts to provide free textbooks to Arizona students. When Bernardo passed and Carmen succeeded him in 1973, Olivia continued this work and was proud to help her mother eventually pass legislation providing free textbooks and supporting the funding of the Arizona Cancer Center.

Olivia Cajero Bedford graduated from Tucson High School and later received a degree from Pima Community College, experiences that later informed her passionate advocacy for vocational education and community colleges. She worked as a hair stylist and went on to start her own salon, O'Hair International, which later grew to two locations in Tucson. She eventually gained employment with the Arizona Office of Tourism and worked in the private sector as well, with stints in sales at two local institutions, the Smuggler's Inn and Old Tucson Studios.

Long active in politics as a member of the Democrats of Greater Tucson, Olivia Cajero Bedford followed in her parents' footsteps by running as the legislative candidate from the west side of Tucson in 2002. She became known for her unique campaign style of standing on street corners with her sign and purple truck, impeccably dressed and wearing a wide-brimmed hat and gloves, waving at her constituents. She was easily elected to four terms each in the House of Representatives and the Senate. 

As a member of the Legislature, Olivia Cajero Bedford was known not only for her fierce advocacy for her working-class constituency but also for her efforts to find common ground with those on the opposite side of the political aisle. This earned her universal respect and admiration from her colleagues at the Capitol and leaders in her hometown of Tucson.

Senator Cajero Bedford will be greatly missed by her beloved children, Travis Bedford and Tara Chipman, her son-in-law, David Chipman, her grandchildren, Allison and Carson Chipman, her sister and best friend, Monica Cajero Tardino, and her brother-in-law, Victor Tardino, as well as by her many friends and colleagues in Tucson and around the State of Arizona.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:

That the Members of the Legislature express their regret at the passing of Senator Olivia Cajero Bedford and extend their deepest sympathies to her surviving family members.