As moderate Republicans supporting Governor Napolitano’s education and social programs in 2004, Linda Binder and Slade Mead often turned a then-17-13 Republican advantage in the Senate into a 15-15 split, forcing leadership to compromise on the budget and, with the help of other moderates, killing such conservative measures as permitting guns in bars and opposing same-sex marriage.

Now gone from the Legislature — Ms. Binder through retirement and Mr. Mead through defeat in the 2004 Republican primary — they express different levels of interest in state government.

“I’ve stayed out — kept my head down,” said Ms. Binder in comments from her Lake Havasu home.

Mr. Mead, on the other hand, said he is “still flirting” with a notion to run for state superintendent of public instruction against incumbent Republican Tom Horne, who has filed for re-election.

“AIMS is a bit of a disaster,” the Ahwatukee resident said, referring to Arizona’s Instrument to Measure Standards test for high school graduation. “Its an embarrassment that it’s still a debate.”

Mr. Mead, who lost to then-Rep. John Huppenthal in last year’s District 20 Senate primary, says he has not ruled out running as a Democrat against Mr. Horne.

Ms. Binder, who served District 3 in the House from 1999-2002 and from 2003-2004 in the Senate, cited family and travel demands for her retirement. She backed then-Rep. Bill Wagner to replace her, but Ron Gould slipped by both Mr. Wagner and then-Rep. Joe Hart to win the seat.

Mr. Gould had one of the most conservative voting records in the Senate this year, voting no 153 times, only three no votes fewer than a Democrat who had the most no votes.

Binder: Lawmakers Lack Vision

“I’m disgusted with my representation,” said Ms. Binder, referring to Mr. Gould. But she said she didn’t pay much attention to the “antics” of the Legislature, other than to observe that it wasn’t “visionary.”

Ms. Binder said the state can afford to provide services to meet population growth and that she still supports full-day kindergarten and other Napolitano programs.

Mead: ‘A Little Bit Frustrating

Mr. Mead, whom Ms. Napolitano appointed this year to head the Arizona Baseball and Softball Commission, said, “It was a little bit frustrating to see things I’d been a party to killing pass, like guns in bars, but the end result was okay.” Ms. Napolitano vetoed S1363, which would have permitted citizens to carry a firearm into a bar or restaurant as long as they didn’t consumer alcohol.

He said he was surprised the Democrat governor initially “gave in” on the corporate tuition tax credit bill as part of this year’s budget deal. In the Senate, Mr. Mead opposed vouchers and tax credits for private and parochial schools.

Ms. Napolitano later vetoed the measure, saying she had agreed to it only if it contained a five-year sunset, or repeal, provision. The bill called for a five-year “review.”

“She put in a caveat… made [signing] it on her terms,” Mr. Mead said. “I could live with that.”

He said he was not surprised a recall campaign against Mr. Huppenthal fell far short of the number of signatures required to make the ballot, but it did have an effect on Mr. Huppenthal, the man who replaced him.

“There certainly was a change in John’s voting pattern and behavior,” Mr. Mead said. “It had a positive effect.”

Mr. Mead said he misses some elements of being in the Legislature, but “I’ve got a lot more freedom now.”

He said the baseball commission has made progress in its mission to bring additional Major League Baseball teams to Arizona from Florida for spring training, but it will require coming up with a plan to finance more Cactus League facilities.

“The TSA [Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority] is pretty tapped out right now,” Ms. Mead said.

Earlier this year, Mr. Mead spent three weeks in North Dakota, observing initial training of a “seizure dog” for his daughter, Lindsay, who suffers from severe epilepsy. The dog, “Gracie,” he said, is able to sense a chemical change in Lindsay — a precursor to a seizure — gets her to lie down, covers her for protection and then sets off a communication device that alerts others to the situation. —