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August 9, 2002/Elul 1 5762, Vol. 54, No. 47
Community concern leads osteopath to politics
BARRY COHEN
Editor
A Valley family physician hadn't always planned to run for political office.
But Dr. Scott Steingard's experience in two arenas - lobbying support for the local Jewish community and addressing academically and politically his frustrations with the medical system - motivated him to put his hat in the ring as a Republican candidate for one of two seats representing legislative District 8 in the Arizona House of Representatives.
Steingard, now 41, recalls that two years ago, he got a call from Richard Dobrusin, an advocate for the construction of the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus on the southeast corner of Scottsdale Road and Sweetwater Avenue in Scottsdale. Dobrusin told Steingard that then-Scottsdale City Councilman George Zraket and some neighbors of the prospective site were fighting against construction of the campus.
Steingard agreed to help, "walking, knocking on doors in the neighborhood" to gather support for the building's construction.
Steingard subsequently attended a number of Scottsdale City Council meetings and observed campus advocates working to convince the elected officials to approve the project.
"I saw what a coalition of people who had good organization and the right frame of mind could do," says Steingard.
Steingard explains that his professional experience in dealing with the pressures of managed care on the patient-physician relationship also led him toward politics.
"I watched ... the disintegration of the relationship between the doctor and the patient occur right before my eyes with my practice," he says.
As his frustration grew, Steingard decided to learn more about public-health policy and in 1998-1999 took a fellowship - based at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio - through the American Osteopathic Association.
Two years later, he wrote and successfully lobbied the passage of a bill through the Arizona legislature to improve physical education and fitness programs in schools.
"Soon afterward, I spoke with my wife, Sharon, and we agreed that I should get more involved in politics by running for office," he says.
Steingard, who lives in District 8 - comprised of Scottsdale, Fountain Hills and Rio Verde - moved with his family to the Valley from Philadelphia in 1961. The Steingards joined Beth El Congregation.
"The Jewish education I got constantly stressed personal responsibility," he says.
This practice of self-reliance within a family context goes hand-in-hand with the Republican political philosophy of personal accountability and individual rights, he adds.
Steingard met his wife when both attended the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Services in Des Moines, Iowa. She is a psychiatrist. The couple have four children: Rachel, 12; Shayna, 10; Elaina, 7; and newborn Samuel.
The Steingards left Beth El in 1996 when they moved from Moon Valley to north Scottsdale. They now are active at Har Zion Congregation. Scott and Sharon lead preschool Shabbat services, and he has been a board member for the past two years, serving as vice president of the Ways and Means Committee.
Steingard relates his political involvement to the traditional Jewish hallmark of engaging in community through the arts, professional organizations and government.
"We need to get more people politically involved. ... Get a voice. Take action. Be involved in the process. Don't sit back and let other people make decisions for you and then kvetch," he says.
Steingard has set up a campaign Web site at www.steingard.com.
Other contenders for the two District 8 seats are Republicans Robert Ditchey, Kathleen Gillis, Ron McCullagh, Michele Reagan and Colette Rosati. The Democratic candidate is Ginny Chin.
The primary election is Sept. 10, and the general election Nov. 5.
This is one of a series of profiles of candidates in the fall elections who are members of the Valley's Jewish community.
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