2011 Leadership of the Arizona State Senate
The leadership positions of the Arizona State Senate will determine the basic structure, ideology and spirit of the next legislative session. Given the need for a two-thirds vote on many financial issues, the ability of the Republican and Democratic caucuses to work together will be critical in being able to consider a broad range of feasible budget alternatives.
Arizona State Senate President Candidates
The President of the Arizona State Senate is the most important position in the Arizona Legislature. The current Senate President Bob Burns is term limited and is retiring from politics.
There are currently four candidates for the Arizona Senate President: Russell Pearce, Steve Pierce, John McComish and Steve Yarbrough.
Sen. Russell Pearce
Political Ideology: Competitive (see below chart)
Key Issues: Enforcement of Immigration Laws, Lowering Taxes with Tax Reform, Elimination of Property Taxes, Reduce Spending, Reduce Regulatory Burden on Businesses, Tort Reform, School Choice, Constitutional Liberties.
Legislative Experience: Arizona State Legislator since 2001, Committees: Chairman, Appropriation Committee, Member, Finance Committee, Member, Judiciary Committee, Architect of SB1070 (2010) "Illegal Immigration", SCR 1031(2010) "Eliminate Affirmative Action", SB1108 (2010) "Freedom to Carry Act", PROP 102 (2008) "Arizona Marriage Amendment", HB2779 (2007) "Arizona Fair and Legal Employment Act", PROP 200 (2004) "Protect Arizona Now".
Proximity to the Capitol: Mesa, 19 miles
Outside Employment: none, formerly; 24 years in Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (including Chief Deputy responsible for Tent City), North Mesa Justice Court Judge, Director of Motor Vehicle Division
Campaign Finance: Traditional
2008 Income $ 94,943; 2010 Income (8/31/10) $ 51,959
Political Consultant: none known
Sen. Steve Pierce
Political Ideology: Committed (see below chart)
Key Issues: Arizona Fiscal Responsibility
Legislative Experience: Arizona State Senator since 2009, Currently Arizona Senate Majority WHIP, Committees: Vice-Chairman, Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Public Debt Committee, Member, Rules Committee.
Proximity to the Capitol: Prescott, 121 miles
Outside Employment: Rancher
Campaign Finance: Traditional
2008 Income $ 321,882; 2010 Income (8/31/10) $ 45,828
Political Consultant: The Symington Group
Rep. John McComish
Political Ideology: Competitive (see below chart)
Key Issues: Reduce State Spending, Business Tax Cuts, Jobs Creation
Legislative Experience: Arizona Representative since 2005, Arizona House Majority Leader since 2009, Arizona House Majority Whip 2007-08, Committees: Member, Natural Resources and Rural Affairs Committee, Member, Rules Committee.
Proximity to the Capitol: Phoenix,14 miles
Outside Employment: None, former Ahwatukee Chamber of Commerce President, former Johnson & Johnson Executive
Campaign Finance: Traditional
2008 Income $ 62,915; 2010 Income (8/31/10) $ 50,844
Political Consultant: Coleman Dahm Associates
Additionally, I believe that the President should be helping the members achieve their agendas rather than vice versa. Prior to legislative service I had considerable experience managing large organizations and understand the role of organizational dynamics. I believe the democrats would say that I work well in reaching across the aisle to achieve mutual objectives."
Rep. Steve Yarbrough
Political Ideology: Competitive (see below chart)
Key Issues: School Choice, Education Reform
Legislative Experience: Arizona Representative since 2003. Currently Speaker Pro Tempore. Previously Served as Chairman of Ways and Means Committee in the 48th Legislature Focused on Various Tax Reforms including Sales Factor and Tax Cuts. Previously Served on Judiciary Committee (for six years) Revising Election Laws and Led on the Pro-Life and Marriage Amendment Efforts. Current Committees: Vice-Chairman, Rules Committee, Member, Ways and Means Committee (for eight years).
Proximity to the Capitol: Chandler, 24 miles
Outside Employment: Executive Director, Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization since 1998, Attorney, Yarbrough & Dunn since 1972
Campaign Finance: Traditional
2008 Income $ 47,489; 2010 Income (8/31/10) $ 26,834
Political Consultant: Summit Consulting Group (2008)
Arizona State Senate Minority Leader Candidates
The position of Minority Leader in the Arizona State Senate promotes the political solutions of the Democrats in the senate. The current Minority Leader in the Arizona Senate is Jorge Luis Garcia, who is term limited and is running for the Arizona Corporation Commission.
There is currently only one announced candidate for Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Rebecca Rios.
Senator Rebecca Rios
Political Ideology: Compassionate (see below chart)
Key Issues: Education, Reform Arizona Tax Code
Legislative Experience: Arizona Senate since 2005, Arizona Senate Assistant Minority Leader since 2009, Senate Minority WHIP, 2007-09, Arizona Representative 1995-2001. Committees: Member, Appropriations Committee, Member, Public Safety and Human Services Committee.
Proximity to the Capitol: Apache Junction, 37 miles
Outside Employment: none reported
Campaign Finance: Clean Elections
2008 Income $ 36,999; 2010 Income (8/31/10) $ 15,649
Political Consultant: Paul Ulan, Primary Consultants
Arizona State Senate Assistant Minority Leader Candidates
The current Assistant Minority Leader in the Arizona Senate is Rebecca Rios, who is currently running for Senate Minority Leader. There is currently only one announced candidate for Senate Assistant Minority Leader, Sen. Linda Lopez.
Senator Linda Lopez
Political Ideology: Compassionate (see below chart)
Key Issues: K-12 Education, Reform Arizona Tax Code
Legislative Experience: Arizona Senator since 2009, Arizona Representative 2001-08, Assistant House Minority Leader 2005-06, House Minority WHIP 2003-04, Committees: Member, Education Accountability and Reform Committee, Member, Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform Committee.
Proximity to the Capitol: Tucson, 120 miles
Outside Employment: Community Relations Coordinator, LaFrontera Center since 2003
Campaign Finance: Traditional
2008 Income $ 28,482; 2010 Income (8/31/10) $ 11,824
Political Consultant: none reported
Arizona State Senate Majority Leader Candidates
The current Majority Leader in the Arizona Senate is Chuck Gray, who chose to voluntarily retire from the Arizona legislature.
There are currently two announced candidates for Senate Majority leader; former Senator Scott Bundgaard and Representative Rick Murphy who is currently running for Senate in LD-9.
Representative Rick Murphy
Political Ideology: Competitive (see below chart)
Key Issues: Fundamental Tax Reform, Replace State Income Tax with Consumption Tax, Oppose New Sales Tax on Services, Eliminate Business Personal Property Tax, Reform Child Protective Services.
Legislative Experience: Arizona House since 2005, Committees: Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee, Member, House Appropriations Committee, Member, House Health and Human Services Committee.
Proximity to the Capitol: Glendale, 17 miles
Outside Employment: Realtor since 1992
Campaign Finance: Traditional
2008 Income $ 21,810; 2010 Income (8/31/10) $ 32,809
Political Consultant: Constantin Querard/ Discessio
Former Senator Scott Bundgaard
Political Ideology: Competitive (see below chart)
Key Issues: End Illegal Immigration, Cut Corporate Tax Rate, Eliminate Capital Gains Tax, Reform Tax Code, Reduce Compliance Costs for Small Businesses, Redirect Tax Dollars to the Classroom, Expand Choices in Education, "Right of our State to Govern Itself".
Legislative Experience: Arizona Senator 1997-02, Arizona House 1995-96, Ran for Congress in 2002.
Proximity to the Capitol: Peoria, 23 miles
Outside Employment: President, ProcureNetworks and Chief Operating Officer, Joe Foss Institute.
Campaign Finance: Traditional
2010 Income (8/31/10) $ 53,147
Political Consultant: Constantin Querard/ Discessio
Arizona State Senate Majority WHIP
The current Senate Majority WHIP is Steve Pierce. He become Majority Whip on August 3, 2009 when former Majority Whip Pam Gorman was asked to step down after a series of disagreements with Senate President Bob Burns over the proposal to increase the state sales tax.
There are currently two announced candidates for Senate Majority WHIP: Senate Sylvia Allen and Senator Al Melvin.
Senator Sylvia Allen
Political Ideology: Competitive (see below chart)
Key Issues: Not Raise Taxes, Reduce State Deficit, Reform Government Agencies, Secure the Border, Parent Choice in Education, Rural Economy, Protect Small Rural Schools, Against Cap & Trade Tax.
Legislative Experience: Arizona Senator since 2008 (appointed to replace Jake Flake), Committees, Member, Appropriations Committee, Member, Education Accountability and Reform Committee, Member, Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Public Debt Committee.
Proximity to the Capitol: Snowflake, 175 miles
Outside Employment: Real Estate Agent, Integrity Realty and Associates since 2005.
Campaign Finance: Traditional
2008 Income $ 49,248; 2010 Income (8/31/10) $ 57,458
Political Consultant: Constantin Querard/ Discessio
Senator Al Melvin
Political Ideology: Competitive (see below chart)
Key Issues: Reduce Size of Government, Lower Taxes, Privatize Some State Functions, Use Inmate Labor, Atomic Energy, Secure the Border, Support Mining, Farming and Ranching Jobs.
Legislative Experience: Arizona Senator since 2009, Committees: Chairman, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, Vice-Chair, Appropriations Committee, Member, Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Public Debt Committee, Member, Public Safety and Human Services Committee.
Proximity to the Capitol: Tucson, 111 miles
Outside Employment: none, formerly Owner, American Quality International Consulting and 30 years in US Naval Reserves (retired as Captain).
Campaign Finance: Traditional
2008 Income $ 100,133; 2010 Income (8/31/10) $ 55,866
Political Consultant: Constantin Querard/ Discessio
Arizona State Senate Minority WHIP Candidates
The current Minority WHIP in the Arizona Senate is Linda Lopez. There is currently only one announced candidate for Senate Minority WHIP, Senator Leah Landrum Taylor.
Senator Leah Landrum-Taylor
Political Ideology: Compassionate (see below chart)
Key Issues: Education, Child Welfare, Fiscal Responsibility
Legislative Experience: Arizona Senator since 2007, Arizona Representative 1999-06, Assistant House Minority Leader 2003-04, House Minority WHIP 2001-02, Committees: Member, Education Accountability and Reform Committee, Member, Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Public Debt Committee, Member, Public Safety and Human Services Committee.
Proximity to the Capitol: Phoenix, 13 miles
Outside Employment: Adjunct Faculty, Maricopa Community Colleges
Campaign Finance: Clean Elections (2008) and Traditional (2010)
2008 Income $ 35,018; 2010 Income (8/31/10) $ 31,164
Political Consultant: Mario E. Diaz & Associates & Paul Ulan, Primary Consultants
