Staff Reports
SAFFORD – The Graham County Democratic Party has announced it will host a meet-and-greet with CD6 candidate Chris Donat on Thursday, June 26, starting at 10 a.m. at the Graham County Democrats’ new headquarters at 325 E. U.S. Highway 70 in Safford.
Donat is running for the Democratic nomination for the House of Representatives’ Congressional District 6, currently held by Republican Juan Ciscomani.
According to his bio, Donat grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended Shaker Heights public schools. He excelled in science, particularly astronomy, and was actively involved in music programs, playing multiple instruments. His love for Arizona began early on, inspired by the TV show “Hey Dude,” and eventually led him to Tucson, where he studied mechanical engineering, Italian, and was a member of the marching band at the University of Arizona.
After earning his BS in Mechanical Engineering, Donat began his career by designing industrial automation equipment. He later transitioned into medical device development, including the design of wheelchair lifts, peptide synthesizers for drug research, and, most notably, contributing to the development of the Ventana HE600, a revolutionary instrument for cancer diagnostics, while at Roche in Oro Valley. Following a two-year stint for Roche’s Hematology instrument division in Boston, he returned to Tucson and currently designs precision control actuation systems for Raytheon Technologies.
Chris has remained engaged with his alma mater, mentoring, sponsoring, and judging senior design projects over the past decade. His passions extend beyond engineering, encompassing learning the piano, bicycling, and hosting clam bakes. He also shares his life with his 4-year-old Rottweiler, Ursa.”
