2012 Legislative committees...so far

Here is a list of people with 2012 legislative campaign committees.  It won't be a comprehensive list as candidates can still get into a race or may run under an older but still active committee (Russell Pearce is running in 2012 under his committee from the 2008 cycle - 200810079).  In addition, the list may include names of people who formed a committee and then decided to run for another office or have simply withdrawn for other reasons.  When I have information regarding that area, or other pertinent information, I'll note it.

Lastly, instead of noting the number of the district that the candidates are running in, I'm going to list the city of the filer's address.  The problem is that some of the committees were formed on the basis of the current legislative district maps, and some were formed on the basis of the new maps.

It will be less confusing to just list the cities.

Candidates (name, filer ID, party, city, office) (note: the candidate names were copied and pasted from the SOS' website.  If the names are in all caps, it's from the SOS, not me):

ABLESER, EDWARD Z, 201200039, Democratic, Tempe, House
Ackerley, John Christopher, 201200361, Republican, Sahuarita, House
ALLEN, JOHN, 201200335, Republican, Scottsdale, House
Allen, Sylvia Tenney, 201200086, Republican, Snowflake, Senate
Alston, Lela, 201200019, Democratic, Phoenix, House
ARREDONDO, GEORGE SR, 201200313, Democratic, Coolidge, House
Baldenegro, Sal, 201200364, Democratic, Tucson, House
Bankston, Michael Kane Sr, 201200307, Democratic, Phoenix, House - I've been informed he is out
Baptiste-Cerra, Damian Matthew, 201200297, Democratic, Mesa, House
Barton, Brenda, 201200151, Republican, Payson, House
Bearup, James Michael, 201200136, Republican, Glendale, House
Benavides , George Henry Sr, 201200323, Republican, Glendale, House
BIGGS, ANDY, 201200009, Republican, Gilbert, Senate
BLENDU, ROBERT, 201200067, Republican, Litchfield Park, House
Bolding, Reginald Jr, 201200298, Democratic, Laveen, House
Boyer, Paul, 201200308, Republican, Phoenix, House
BRADLEY, DAVID, 201200161, Democratic, Tucson, House
BROOKS, WYATT, 201200221, Republican, Kingman, House
Bunch, Ed, 201200284, Republican, Scottsdale, House
Bundgaard, Scott, 201200250, Republican, Peoria, Senate - Resigned, probably not running
BURGES, JUDY, 201200027, Republican, Sun City West, Senate
BUSTAMANTE, ERNEST, 201200347, Democratic, Mammoth, House
CAJERO BEDFORD, OLIVIA, 201200159, Democratic, Tucson, Senate
Chabin, Tom, 201200301, Democratic, Flagstaff, Senate
Chesley, Larry, 201200382, Republican, Queen Creek, House
CHEUVRONT, KEN, 201200287, Democratic, Phoenix, Senate
CLODFELTER, TODD A, 201200383. Republican, Tucson, Senate
COLEMAN, DANIEL, 201200412, Republican, Phoenix, House
Coleman, Douglas Kent, 201200288, Republican, Apache Junction, House
Coleman, Sarah, 201200407, Republican, Laveen, Senate - Sarah and Daniel Coleman have the same address
Contreras, Guadalupe Chavira Mr., 201200400, Democratic, Avondale, House
Contreras, Victor Jett, 201200309, Democratic, Phoenix, House
Court, Steve, 201200164, Republican, Mesa, House
CRANDELL, CHESTER J, 201200119, Republican, Heber, House
Dalessandro, Andrea, 201200304, Democratic, Green Valley, House
Davis, Ruth, 201200422, Democratic, Tucson, House
DeLozier, G David, 201200348, Republican, Phoenix, House
DIAL, JEFF, 201200012, Republican, Chandler, House
Dubreil, Jeanette, 201200340, Republican, Peoria, House
Durbin, Pamela, 201200397, Other, Lake Havasu, Senate
Fann, Karen Elizabeth Ms, 201200041, Republican, Prescott, House
FARNSWORTH, EDDIE, 201200247, Republican, Gilbert, House
FERNANDEZ, CHARLENE R Ms., 201200404, Democratic, Yuma, House
Fillmore, John, 201200271, Republican, Apache Junction, Senate
Finch, Stacy Lynn, 201200331, Republican, Eagar, House
FINE, BRENT, 201200357, Other, Chandler, House
Fisher, Darin, 201200418, Democratic, Phoenix, House
FLEMING, PATRICIA V, 201200131, Democratic, Sierra Vista, Senate
Flores, Tony Enrique, 201200439, Democratic, Phoenix, Senate
Gabaldon, Rosanna, 201200336, Democratic, Green Valley, House
GALLARDO, STEVE, 201200008, Democratic, Phoenix, Senate
GARCIA, MARIA De La Luz, 201200305, Democratic, Tucson, Senate Not sure, but this one may be for campaign finance filing purposes only.  She is the widow of late state Sen. Jorge Garcia and was appointed to serve out his term after he passed away in 2010.
Gates, Bill, 201200354, Democratic, Sun Lakes, Senate
GONZALES, SALLY ANN, 201200342, Democratic, Tucson, House
GOODALE, DORIS, 201200199, Republican, Kingman, House
GOWAN, DAVID, 201200129, Republican, Sierra Vista, House
Gray, L. Richard, 201200120, Republican, Sun City, House
Griffin, Gail, 201200166, Republican, Hereford, Senate
HAMWAY, MARY, 201200252, Republican, Paradise Valley, House
Hernandez, Lydia, 201200429, Democratic, Phoenix, House
HOBBS, KATIE, 201200026, Democratic, Phoenix, Senate
Holt, Jo, 201200256, Democratic, Oro Valley, Senate
JACKSON, JACK JR, 201200434, Democratic, Window Rock, Senate
JORDAN, ALBERT, 201200394, Other, Tucson, House
JORGENSEN, DONALD, 201200365, Democratic, Tucson, Senate
Judd, Peggy Suzanne, 201200032, Republican, Willcox, House
KAVANAGH, JOHN, 201200102, Republican, Fountain Hills, House
Kibler, Terri, 201200337, Republican, Casa Grande, Senate
Kilgore, Bryan Sr., 201200132, Democratic, Avondale, House
Kwasman, Adam, 201200127, Republican, Tucson, House
Larkin, Jonathan, 201200310, Democratic, Glendale, House
Lathan, Karyn, 201200274, Democratic, Chandler, House
Leach, Robert, 201200172, Democratic, Sierra Vista, House
LeFevre, Angela, 201200431, Democratic, Sedona, House
LESKO, DEBBIE, 201200020, Republican, Glendale, House
LEWIS, JERRY, 201200269, Republican, Mesa, Senate
Livingston, David Alan, 201200401, Republican, Peoria, House
Lokare, Carol Jean Mrs, 201200265, Democratic, Peoria, House
Lovas, Phil, 201200283, Republican, Peoria, House
Lundstrom, Richard Jon, 201200391, Other, Tucson, Senate
Mach, Stefanie, 201200378, Democratic, Tucson, House
McDermott, Jean, 201200291, Democratic, Phoenix, House Not related to me; however, she is related to someone who is known within AZ political circles.  She is the mother of former state Senator Ken Cheuvront.
MCGUIRE, BARBARA, 201200355, Democratic, Kearny, Senate
McLain, Nancy, 201200141, Republican, Bullhead City, Senate
Mendez, Juan Jose, 201200435, Democratic, Tempe, House
MEZA, ROBERT, 201200004, Democratic, Phoenix, Senate
Miranda, Catherine, 201200338, Democratic, Phoenix, House
Montijo, Christopher Dario, 201200330, Republican, Mesa, House
Morris, Scott, 201200282, Republican, Peoria, House
Murray, Tom, 201200040, Other, Mesa, House
Nerini, Tom, 201200339, Democratic, Phoenix, House
Norwood, Tonya, 201200324, Democratic, Phoenix, House
Novalsky, Judy, 201200294, Republican, Apache Junction, House
Orr, Ethan, 201200317, Republican, Tucson, House
Ortiz, Joe, 201200334, Republican, Casa Grande, Senate
Otondo, Lisa, 201200428, Democratic, Yuma, House
Pancrazi, Margaret Lynne Mrs., 201200185, Democratic, Yuma, Senate
Patrick, Brandon, 201200369, Democratic, Tucson, House
Patterson, Daniel, 201200253, Democratic, Tucson, House Because of his ethics issues and criticism related to those issues, Patterson has changed his registration to Independent and has suspended his campaign
Petersen, Jennifer, 201200389, Republican, Scottsdale, House
Petersen, Warren, 201200227, Republican, Gilbert, House
Pierce, Justin, 201200130, Republican, Mesa, House
PIERCE, STEPHEN M, 201200060, Republican, Scottsdale, Senate Actually, Steve Pierce is already a sitting senator, the president of the Senate in fact.  He is from Prescott, but his filer and committee address is a PO box in Scottsdale
PRATT, FRANK, 201200212, Republican, Casa Grande, House
Prior, Scott Michael, 201200286, Other, Apache Junction, Senate
QUELLAND, DOUG, 201200327, Phoenix, Other, Senate Yes, this is the same Doug Quelland who ran afoul of Clean Elections when he was a member of the House
Quezada, Martin J., 201200170, Democratic, Phoenix, House
Rawles, Tom, 201200311, Other, Carefree, Senate
REAGAN, MICHELE, 201200023, Republican, Scottsdale, Senate
ROBSON, BOB, 201200015, Republican, Chandler, House
Rosado, John A, 201200320, Republican, Phoenix, House
SALDATE, MACARIO IV, 201200293, Democratic, Tucson, House
SAMANIEGO, MARTIN, 201200326, Democratic, Phoenix, House
SCARMARDO, SALVATORE LUKE, 201200137, Republican, Lake Havasu, Senate
Schapira, David, 201200036, Democratic, Tempe, Senate Schapira may have an open committe for state senate, but he is running for Congress
SCHNITTGRUND, GEORGE, 201200229, Republican, Lake Havasu, House
Seel, Carl, 201200044, Republican, Phoenix, House
SHELLEY, ERIC, 201200406, Democratic, Phoenix, Senate
Sherwood, Andrew, 201200405, Democratic, Mesa, House
SHOOTER, DON, 201200035, Republican, Yuma, Senate Shooter has indicated that he may move to a more R-friendly district in his quest to keep a seat in the Senate; he'll have residency issues with that, but I'll leave it to one of his opponents in the R primary to knock him off of the ballot
Shope, Thomas R Jr., 201200100, Republican, Coolidge, House
Sidhwa, Mohur Sarah, 201200241, Democratic, Tucson, House
Sierra, Lorenzo Jr., 201200162, Democratic, Avondale, House
SINEMA, KYRSTEN, 201200034, Democratic, Phoenix, Senate Sinema has resigned from the Senate and is running for Congress instead
SMITH, DAVID, 201200218, Republican, Scottsdale, House
Smith, Steve, 201200090, Republican, Republican, Maricopa, House
Snitz, Michael, 201200158, Democratic, Phoenix, House
Steele, Victoria, 201200238, Democratic, Tucson, House
STEVENS, DAVID, 201200013, Republican, Sierra Vista, House
Stonebraker, Mark Holub, 201200188, Democratic, Sierra Vista, House
Swarthout, JEANNE, 201200384, Democratic, Taylor, House
Teran, Raquel A., 201200413, Democratic, Phoenix, Senate
TOBIN, ANDREW Michael, 201200011, Republican, Prescott, House
Tovar, Anna M, 201200010, Democratic, Tolleson, Senate
Townsend, Kelly J, 201200292, Republican, Mesa, House
Ugenti, Michelle B, 201200029, Republican, Scottsdale, House
ULIS, ERIC JOHN, 201200306, Republican, Scottsdale, House
VERDUGO, EMILY, 201200374, Democratic, Coolidge, House
Vogt, Ted, 201200016, Republican, Tucson, House
WARD, KELLI, 201200195, Republican, Lake Havasu, Senate
Weisser, Beth L, 201200356, Democratic, Golden Valley, Senate
WHEELER, BRUCE, 201200426, Democratic, Tucson, House
Winters, Justin, 201200375, Other, San Tan Valley, House
Worsley, Robert, 201200424, Republican, Mesa, Senate
Yarbrough, Steven B, 201200295, Republican, Chandler, Senate
Yee, Kimberly, 201200214, Republican, Phoenix, Senate
Youn, Edward Jason, 201200385, Republican, Mesa, House

Horne and Patterson: Electeds behaving badly

It was a rather eventful day for a couple of Arizona's elected officials, and not a good kind of "eventful" -

- News broke that Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne is under investigation by the FBI.

From Arizona Public Media, written by Fernanda Echavarri -

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne is under investigation for allegations of campaign finance violations and unethical conduct.

A complaint filed with the secretary of state’s office says Horne, his brother-in-law, a political consultant and a former representative of an independent expenditure committee violated state and federal campaign laws.

According to an Arizona Republic article written by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, some of the other people involved were Richard Newman (the "brother-in-law" in the quoted passage, Nathan Sproul (a political consultant, and a rather infamous one at that) and Kathleen Winn (the director of the independent expediture committee and later a highly-paid employee of Horne's office).

The investigation is ongoing, and more details are sure to come out in the coming weeks, and while an investigation is hardly a conviction, is anybody really surprised that a guy who received a lifetime securities trading ban from the SEC, lied on legal documents about going through a bankruptcy, and hired a woman who is a close friend to a lucrative job with the AG's office that for which she apparently wasn't qualified could have done something like violate campaign finance laws?

- While the investigation into Horne is far from over and more info is sure to come out, the report from the investigation into the actions of State Rep. Daniel Patterson was released to the public today, and it documents behavior that ranges from simply "colorful" thru "unprofessional" to possibly "criminal."

From the Tucson Weekly, written by Hank Stephenson -

The ethics investigation into Rep. Daniel Patterson has culminated in a lengthy and damning report (complete with extensive footnotes) recommending Patterson's expulsion from the House of Representatives.

The expulsion recommendation in the report, prepared by Stinson Moris Hecker LLP and delivered to the Ethics Committee and Patterson over the weekend and made public today, is based on a long list of ethical, moral and possibly legal breaches by Patterson, including, but not limited to:

• A broad-based distrust and fear of him by members and staff

• A legacy of ignoring House rules, decorum and professionalism

• Verbal abuse and harassment and physical threats of those who disagree with him

• Past and continued violation of court orders

• Lying about bills

• Frequent marijuana use

• Manipulation of his former campaign manager and girlfriend Georgette Escobar

• Seeking sex from a lobbyist in exchange for his vote

It's clear that Patterson has issues that go deeper than his penchant for assaulting the women in his life, as damning as that alone would be.

The report has re-energized calls for Patterson to resign, including that of House Democratic leader Rep. Chad Campbell.

And mine. 

It's long past time for Patterson to step down and deal with the personal issues he needs to deal with, and if he won't do it on his own,  the rest of the House membership should show him the door.



The full report is here, courtesy Arizona Public Media.

CD5's Democrats select their delegates to the 2012 Democratic National Convention

On Saturday, Democrats from all over Arizona's 5th Congressional District gathered at the Pecos Community Center in Phoenix to select their representatives to the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.

CD5's Democrats, showing that they are perhaps the most active in the state, had the most delegate candidates in the state -

After a few hours of speeches, campaigning, and voting, six candidates were elected -

(L-R) Janie Hydrick, Chase Williams, Laura Copple, Jerry Gettinger, Lauren Kuby

Congratulations to the delegates and thanks all of the candidates.for all that they do (and they do a LOT).

On to Charlotte!

The coming week...

As usual, all agendas and calendars are subject to change without notice. 

And given that the lege is expected to end its session within the next few weeks, things could start getting crazy down there...well, crazier than usual, anyway. :)

...On the House side of the Capitol -

No House committee agendas have been posted as yet, but the agenda for a House Rules committee from Thursday, March 29 should serve as a good preview of floor activity this week. 

That agenda included gems such as SB1083, creating the Arizona Special Missions Unit, a state government sanctioned anti-immigrant vigilante force and SB1104, appropriating nearly $300K to the Republicans' Joint Border Security Advisory Committee.

Monday's Third Read Calendar (final approval) includes SB1311, which would raise the limit on small claims court actions heard by justice courts from $10K to $15K (has constitutional issues); and SB1259, reconsideration of a measure from Sen. Rich Crandall (that failed Thursday with bipartisan support and opposition) that would mandate that public schools allow students to enroll in online courses, with the subsequent redirection of public school funding to the providers, presumably private, of the online courses (Crandall has ties to, and isn't above using his elected office to promote, a private company in the online education business).

Other bills that could be seen on the House floor this week (and this isn't meant to be a comprehensive list):  SB1449, weakening the state's recall election law; SB1507, barring the state, its agencies, and any counties, municipalities, or other political subdivisions from doing anything to implement the UN's Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (appears to be an ALEC/Koch Brothers special);  and SB1359, immunizing doctors from civil liability related any failure to inform patients of a fetus' genetic defects or other medical issues (it's meant to allow doctors to misinform patients if their purpose is too prevent people from choosing an abortion).


On the Senate side of the Capitol -

- Rules is scheduled to meet Monday at 1 p.m. in Caucus Room 1.

The following committees are meeting to consider executive nominations:

- Judiciary, Monday, 2 p.m., SHR1 (one to watch - the appointments under consideration are for county trial court appointment boards and the state commission on judicial conduct; in other words, this one is all about the future of the state's judiciary)
- Veterans, Military, and Government Affairs, Tuesday, upon adjournment of the meeting of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC), SHR3
- Government Reform, Tuesday, 1 p.m., SHR1
- Commerce and Energy, Wednesday, 9 a.m., SHR109
- Water, Land Use, and Rural Development, Wednesday, 2 p.m., SHR3
- Finance, Thursday, 9 a.m., SHR109
- Natural Resources and Transportation, Thursday, 9:30 a.m., SHR109


Monday's Third Read calendar includes HB2557, Sen. Frank Antenori's attack on municipal use of photo radar to enforce traffic laws (basically, he's sick of getting tickets); Committee of the Whole (COW) includes HB2071, an anti-protester bill that would make passive resistance of (aka failure to actively cooperate with) an arrest a class 1 misdemeanor; HB2503, increasing protections for corporations from product liability lawsuits; HB2826, mandating that all elections in AZ, with the exception of certain special elections, be held in even numbered years on an August/November schedule.

Not on Monday's calendar as of this writing, but almost certain to make an appearance this week, is HB2625, Debbie Lesko's anti-contraception bull bill.  It was defeated last week, but Sen. Nancy Barto moved to reconsider, or bring back, the measure, and that motion passed. 

The lege's calendar of events at the Capitol this week is here; the Arizona Capitol Times' Capitol Calendar is here.

Congressman wears hoodie in solidarity with Trayvon Martin, kicked out of House chamber

I truly wish Harry Mitchell was still my representative in Congress, and truly hope that David Schapira becomes my representative there next year. 

It was great to have a representative in Congress who was worthy of respect like Harry was, not least because of his respect for his constituents.

David will be worthy of the same respect, for much the same reason.

However, for now, for a day, the representative who is most worthy of my respect isn't from Arizona (and certainly isn't from Fountain Hills) -

Pic courtesy AP via KSL.com








Congressman Bobby Rush was removed from the floor of the House for wearing a hoodie to bring attention to the murder of Trayon Martin and the subsequent free pass given to the killer by the police in Florida.

For having the heart and backbone (and yes, the sense of theatrics) to stand up, for today anyway, Rep. Rush is my Congressman.