Get ready for changes in party leadership at the state Senate.
After the November general election, Senate caucuses will gather for their biennial organizational meetings and to elect majority and minority leaders for 2007-2008.
Senate President Ken Bennett and Democrat Leader Linda Aguirre are leaving the Legislature at the end of the year, opening the door for new leadership in both parties. Mr. Bennett served four years in his post, following Randall Gnant. Ms. Aguirre was elected minority leader for 2005-2006, when then-Sen. Jack Brown was termed out and elected to the House.
“First and foremost, I wish to be president of the Senate to serve the members,” said Sen. Robert Blendu, Rules Committee chairman and one of four Republican candidates for the upper chamber’s top job. “Having been elected to leadership in the past, as majority whip in the House, I have a clear understanding of the very different but critical roles of each leader and the importance of their ongoing participation in the entire process.”
Mr. Blendu, Majority Leader Tim Bee, Majority Whip Jay Tibshraeny and Sen. Bob Burns, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, all say they are candidates for Senate president. Mr. Bee says he’s got the votes to be elected.
“I’m hoping that [expected vote total] will go up,” he said. “There are some changes I want to make that I don’t want to talk about now. I’m really excited about the opportunity.”
Mr. Burns says he has some goals if chosen by the Republican caucus, one of which is to improve legislative communications with the public.
“A part of that commitment is an expanded effort to improve the public image of the Legislature in general and the Senate in particular by putting in place the staff necessary to implement a public information system using the Internet and existing e-mail systems to give the members of the public periodic and or instantaneous first-party information relative to individual members and or the activities of the entire Senate,” Mr. Burns said.
He has sponsored legislation to establish the office of Ombudsman Citizens Aid, the Office of Administrative Hearings and the Government Information and Technology Agency.
Mr. Tibshraeny was on vacation and unavailable for an interview at press time July 27.
Mr. Blendu said legislative leaders should lead.
“Staff should not have to assume the responsibilities that historically leadership has been charged with,” he said. “It is not fair to staff, to leaders or to members and it is not in the best interest of the Senate as an institution.”
While not an official leadership position, the Appropriations Committee chairman often is included in leadership meetings regarding the budget.
“The leadership teams of the ’90s and the past four years were able to reduce the burden on the taxpayers of Arizona, in the ’90s by over $1 billion dollars and in the last session by another $500 million, while, at the same time, significantly increasing the support of major budget units, such as education and medical care as well as many others,” Mr. Burns said. “ I take a great deal of pride in being a part of those leadership teams.”
Mr. Bee said, “Certainly things will be different. I learned a lot from Bennett. Of course, I have ideas of my own that I’m going to implement and hopefully use.”
Mr. Burns and Mr. Bee have no primary opposition, and Mr. Blendu and Mr. Tibshraeny are unopposed in the primary and general elections.
Democrats in leadership
Ms. Aguirre, who is a candidate for justice of the peace in south Phoenix, was praised by her assistant leader, Sen. Richard Miranda.
“Linda did a fantastic job,” said Mr. Miranda, who hopes to be elected Democrat leader for the next session. “I hope I have the confidence of the caucus.”
He said Senate Democrats have had a good relationship with Mr. Bennett, adding he hopes to maintain a good relationship with the new president.
While not saying he was going to seek a leadership position, Sen. Ken Cheuvront this past session called for more diversity among Senate Democrat leaders, all of who are Hispanic.
“Diversity is great,” Mr. Miranda said. “It’s up to the members to decide who they want in leadership, and anyone who is selected for leadership will represent everyone.”
Mr. Miranda added that the natural competition between the parties in the Senate has not deteriorated into what he said was a “tumultuous” situation between rank-and-file in the House and the Speaker Jim Weiers.
“There’s been a little bit of what I would say is animosity,” he said.
Mr. Miranda said the Democrats will miss the medical expertise of Sen. Robert Cannell and the legal knowledge of Sen. Bill Brotherton. Both are retiring from the Senate.
Mr. Miranda is unopposed for reelection.