Major General David Rataczak won confirmation March 4 to another term as chief of the Arizona National Guard – nearly one year after his confirmation was delayed when a senator denied him a hearing. The confirmation came about some two weeks after Rataczak’s nomination was given preliminary approval in committee. A similar effort to confirm the general failed last session when Sen. Jack Harper of Surprise, chairman of the Senate Government Committee, refused to give Rataczak a hearing. Senate President Tim Bee said it was important to confirm Rataczak because Arizona National Guard members are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. “We need consistency and leadership,” Bee said. In 2003, Rataczak had testified against Harper’s proposal to stage the National Guard training on the border with Mexico.