Around 11:30 each night, Rebecca Schneider checks her e-mails, as most people do when they get to work.

Into the evening — or morning, depending on how you look at it — she process interlibrary loans, fields questions and makes sure everyone is doing his or her job.

But recently, things have changed for the overnight Hayden Library manager: Getting up at 5 o’clock instead of 8 in the evening, she’s been pounding the campaign-trail pavement.

Schneider, a Democrat, is hoping to represent, Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, which covers Gilbert, Queen Creek and parts of Chandler, Mesa and Apache Junction, in the U.S. House. She’s looking to unseat eight-year incumbent Republican Jeff Flake.

If elected, Schneider said she wants to return rights, security and prosperity to her constituents. Hers is a platform of civil liberties, protecting the country and improving the economy, she said.

With the financial crisis weighing heavily on people’s minds, the economy needs to be better regulated, Schneider said.

“We need to return to the regulations we once had. It’s barely regulated at all now,” she said. “Greed will overcome common sense if you give it that opportunity.”

Schneider said she never thought of getting involved with politics until George W. Bush was elected. She said Flake supports Bush’s infringement of civil liberties.

“[Flake] doesn’t vote to help anybody. If you’re not a large corporation or it’s not a tax cut, he votes against it,” Schneider said.

“Between Flake and Bush, they were the catalyst that got me involved in politics,” Schneider said. “You must have strength to stand up when something is wrong.”

A Flake spokesman declined to comment for this article.

Retiree Betty Sharpe met Schneider at an anti-Bush protest rally in Mesa last year.

Sharpe said she is disappointed in Flake’s voting record. He has voted in support of the Iraq War and in favor of legislation that denies equal rights to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, she said.

“I want a representative at the federal level who is going to work for change — one who actually is concerned about the citizens and their economic survival,” she said. “I feel Rebecca is committed to this.”

Schneider won the primary election in September with 74 percent of the vote against Chris Gramazio.

She said campaigning in the general election has been discouraging. The candidates get judged on the amount of money raised, not stances on the issues, she said.

“It’s a Catch-22. If you don’t have money, know money or start with money it is very difficult. The state and national party won’t bother with you unless you’re raising money,” Schneider said. “If you make it on the ballot, the Republicans give you money. If Democrats did that once you were on ballot, it would make a difference.”

ASU alumna Jody Ernest, an animal rights supporter, said Schneider’s stance on civil liberties interested her.

Ernest said the two share a common stance on animal testing, particularly concerning the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, which labels protesters as terrorists.

Ernest said the act has existed for a while but has been beefed up to potentially criminalize people for exercising their First Amendment right to peaceably protest.

“Animal testing causes more pollution and possible disease,” Ernest said. “Rebecca has participated in our efforts to fight this. It’s time for a change and she’s the right way to go.”

Reach the reporter at philip.haldiman@asu.edu.