Senate Democratic Leader Linda Aguirre says she is guardedly optimistic about this year’s legislative session, despite having one fewer member in her caucus and the loss of experienced Democrats to term limits.

Ms. Aguirre, who has represented Phoenix’s District 13 since 1993 in the House and Senate, takes over the caucus from newly elected Rep. Jack Brown, who was termed out in the Senate last year. The caucus also will be minus Pete Rios, a former Senate president also termed out and elected to the House, and Senate Democrats no longer will have the support of Slade Mead and Linda Binder, two moderate Republicans who often sided with Democrats on Governor Napolitano’s agenda.

Ms. Aguirre will lead the caucus with Assistant Democrat Leader Harry Mitchell and Whip Richard Miranda.

In an interview last month, Ms. Aguirre discussed how Democrats will deal with the majority agenda and how they will try to reposition the party in the eyes of the public.

Arizona Capitol Times: The majority will have its agenda for the session. Will yours be pretty much the governor’s, or will you have your own≠

Sen. Aguirre: We’re going to develop our own agenda. We’ll be meeting with her and going over what her agenda is going to be. I’m sure they’re going to mirror. Our agenda has been pretty much the same — focus on education and health care for the elderly.

They [Republicans] are going to do the budget process differently this year, mainly running it through Appropriations and the caucuses and then to the floor, rather than having to negotiate it upfront among leadership, since the two moderates are gone.

They tried to do their own budget process, really quickly realizing that after two or three months of trying to do that through their own caucus, we ended up having to do the negotiations. We will patiently wait. Democrats will have their input during the regular appropriations process and on the floor. It’ll go over to the House, and they have the votes, and it will go to the governor, and we’ll be back at the negotiating table. At that point, Democrats will be included.

How are you going to make up for, if you can, the loss of Mead and Binder≠

The Democrats have always held their own. We have some very talented Democratic senators, very seasoned. They’ve worked with Republicans. We’ve always worked as a team on issues. I don’t see that changing. I’m not pessimistic about the situation. I’m more optimistic.

You’re more optimistic this year than last year≠

No, last year was very optimistic. I’m not being pessimistic.

How much of that statement involves your working relationship with Senate President Ken Bennett≠

It’s an established good relationship. He pretty much let me do our own committee assignments. Prior to Ken, they pretty much did what they wanted.

How can you be a force≠

I think we can be a force if we stay united on the issues we believe in. Democrats do have the pulse of our state. Staying true to that and, with the governor’s support, we can get a lot of our agenda completed.

What did you lean from Jack Brown about leadership≠

Patience. He’d say, ‘Sit back, Linda, be patient, it’ll come around — the issue’s not dead.’

Are you going to have to teach your rank and file patience≠

No. They’re pretty seasoned. We have Rebecca Rios coming in. She’s been in the House, and once you live the House experience, you do really develop a harder shell and patience for the process. The thing about the Senate is you can accomplish a lot more than in the House.

Will Ms. Rios follow in her father’s footsteps≠ Be as aggressive≠

She’s quite different. She’s got an agenda. She’s very strong on family issues. She’s going to be quite a surprise for people who haven’t worked with her.

What will you count on Sen. Mitchell for≠

Harry’s going to be my strong advocate on government issues… cities and towns.

How do you see the relationship between Sen. Bennett and Speaker-designee Weiers≠

The House has always been kind of an independent animal out there. I think Jim will extend an arm out to Ken. I think they’re more willing to work with one another.

They didn’t have that great of relationship over here [when Weiers was in the Senate].

What happened here was that Jim liked the House and liked leadership. I don’t think it led to a strained relationship. They have a difference of opinion on issues, and Jim’s very strong-minded, and Ken was very strong-minded on his opinions, as well.

How closely will you work with the Dems in the House≠

That’s one of the areas I want to improve on. I’d like to sit down with them, if possible, on a weekly basis. That’s where we’ve been missing the boat in that we haven’t joined forces with the House. There’s a lot of strategizing that has to happen. Eventually, we’ll end up with one big caucus.

You said the Democrats were the pulse of Arizona, but after the last election…..

They keep labeling Democrats as anti-family, but that’s a misnomer. We have been very family oriented. We stick up for all-day kindergarten, which is a family issue, and health care, which is a family issue. I think we’re even stronger on family issues sometimes than some of our Republican counterparts here in the Senate. Are we all pro-life≠ No, but some of us are. Are we all [against same-sex marriage], no, but some of us are. You will see more posturing by the Democrats on family values.

Is a 100-day session possible≠ Sixty-five day budget possible≠

Hundred day, yes. We will be here for a while with the budget.

Senator-Elect Flake says there’s certain to be wedge issues they want to send the governor, but Senator Bennett said he doesn’t plan on doing that.

I don’t think Ken has control of that. Members are going to send their own legislation, and there’s going to be some polarizing. I never see Ken stopping legislation. If one of his members wants to do an issue on abortion, for example, that’s going to get through. There will be some of those kinds of issues the governor will have to deal with. She’s got a very good record of getting things done for the state.

In effect, isn’t she sitting in the Senate because of her veto power≠

We’ve got that advantage. Our members have their ideas to sell her on, not her selling us on. She’ll have to compromise… and we’ll say we’re ready to help you negotiate. I don’t think we’ll ask her to veto anything.

Polls still show people don’t have high regard for the Legislature. How can that be changed≠

We have a few bad apples that always spoil things for us here. That happens, and there’s nothing you can do to prevent that. We do a good job for the state. The word just doesn’t get out there. I know this next year’s going to be the same thing — it’s going to say the governor and the Democrats are fighting with the Republicans. There’s an idea out there to completely change the structure of the Legislature to have it all non-partisan, like a city council. Maybe then, I don’t know. —