Karrin Taylor Robson

Karrin Margaret Taylor Robson (née Kunasek, born 1964/1965) is an American lawyer, land use consultant, and Republican Party politician from Arizona. Taylor Robson was a member of the Arizona Board of Regents from 2017 until 2021; she was appointed to the post by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey.

Robson ran in the Republican primary in the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial election but was defeated by Trump-backed candidate Kari Lake.

Early life

Born Karrin Margaret Kunasek, she was raised in Mesa, Arizona. The Kunasek family is prominent in Arizona Republican politics. Her father, Carl Kunasek, was president of the Arizona State Senate and a member of the Arizona Corporation Commission. Her mother was Kathryn Frances Kunasek (née Ryan) (1935–2020). Her brother, Andy, was a member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors from 1997 to 2017.

Education and career

Taylor Robson earned her Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from Arizona State University (ASU) in 1988. After graduating college, Taylor Robson was a staff assistant for President Ronald Reagan's economic policy council, and a staff assistant for the Office of Cabinet Affairs in the administration of George H. W. Bush. After leaving the White House, Taylor Robson worked for Governor Kay Orr in Nebraska and returned home to Arizona where she worked in the administration of Governor Fife Symington. She earned a Juris Doctor from ASU's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law in 1994 Four years into her career she became a partner in the law firm of Biskind, Hunt, & Taylor, P.L.C. focusing on real estate law, zoning, and land use law.

In 2005, Taylor Robson joined DMB Associates, an Arizona based master-planned community development company, where she served as Executive Vice President. She left DMB in early 2016 and founded Arizona Strategies, a land-use consulting firm focused on helping clients create value through the thoughtful development of property.

Taylor Robson was appointed to the Air Force Chief of Staff's Civic Leader program in 2005, where she serves as an unpaid advisor and liaison between Air Force leadership and the civilian community surrounding Luke Air Force Base. Taylor Robson is a graduate member of the Honorary Commanders Program.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey appointed Taylor Robson to the Arizona Board of RegentsBoard extends appreciation to Regent Karrin Taylor Robson for her service on the board following her resignation announcement
Arizona Board of Regents (July 19, 2021). in June 2017 to fill the remaining term of an outgoing member of the Board. In 2020, she was reappointed her to a full eight-year term. Taylor Robson brought her real estate expertise to the Board and led the way on improvements to the management of the university's real estate portfolio and on-going real estate activities. As a Regent, Taylor Robson introduced the Regents Cup, an annual debate competition between students at the state's three universities which focuses on increasing civil discourse among students. She also worked with board colleagues to focus on her campaign for the Republican nomination for governor. In July of 2021, she resigned from the Board to focus on her gubernatorial campaign.

During her time as Chairwoman of the Joe Foss Institute, Taylor Robson "fought to require Arizona's high schools to take the same civics test immigrants must take to become citizens" as a graduate requirement. This initiative has since been adopted in 33 states across the country.

Taylor Robson was named the 71st Woman of the Year by Valley Leadership and in 2020 she was inducted into the Arizona Women's Hall of Fame.

2022 gubernatorial campaign

In 2019, Taylor Robson publicly considered a potential 2022 candidacy for governor of Arizona. She formally announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination in May 2021. (Ducey, the incumbent, could not run again due to term limits.) She described herself as a "lifelong conservative Republican" and stated her opposition to the policies of the Biden administration. Her candidacy was endorsed by former Arizona governors Fife Symington and Jan Brewer, Ducey, the outgoing governor; Arizona Senate president Karen Fann; Mike Pence; and Americans for Prosperity.Jessica Boehm
Lake, Robson spar in debate ahead of GOP gubernatorial primary
''Axios'' (June 30, 2022). Taylor Robson was also endorsed by former Arizona Republican congressman Matt Salmon, who ran for the gubernatorial nomination but withdrew from the race in late June 2022.

By contrast, Taylor Robson's opponent was endorsed by Donald Trump.Jonathan J. Cooper &, Bob Christie
Republicans square off in raucous Arizona governor debate
Associated Press (June 30, 2022).
During her campaign for the Republican primary nomination, Taylor Robson said that she did not believe the 2020 elections were fair, "She accused liberal judges of changing the rules late in the game".

As a pro-lifer, Karrin said that "abortion is evidence that we have failed women". If elected, she was prepared to "protect and take care of the woman as much as we protect and take care of the child".

Personal life

Taylor Robson lives in the Phoenix area.Ray Stern
5 takeaways from the Republican debate for Arizona governor
''Arizona Republic'' (June 30, 2022). She is married to Ed Robson, a real estate developer.Brahm Resnik
Ducey endorses Taylor Robson in Arizona's Republican primary for governor
KPNX (July 7, 2022).

References

External links

Karrin Taylor Robson for GovernorArizona Strategies

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robson, Karrin Taylor
1960s births
Living people
Arizona Republicans
American Christians
American people of Czech descent
American people of Irish descent
Arizona lawyers
George H. W. Bush administration personnel
People from Mesa, Arizona
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law alumni
Reagan administration personnel
Women in Arizona politics