NewsPeople 12/3/2010

Legislature
• Bob Burns, retiring Senate president, was honored with the Arizona Tax Research Association’s Watchdog Award on Nov. 19. The award recognizes his efforts during three decades to fight for taxpayers and target wasteful spending.

ATRA complimented Burns for his “almost singular focus to control the growth of government.” The award was presented at the group’s annual Outlook Conference at The Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort.

• Anna Tovar, a Tolleson Democrat representing Legislative District 13, was recently honored with the Legacy of Excellence Award by the Jobs for America’s Graduates program for at-risk youth.

The award was especially meaningful for Tovar, who attended the very same program as a teenager. The award recognizes her as an “inspirational role-model for young people.”

“It’s a great feeling to be able to give back to a program that helped make me who I am,” Tovar said. “Right now, youth in Arizona deserve adequate, equitable and sustainable funding to make every public school a great school.”

• Russell Pearce, Senate president-elect, recently received the Daring the Odds: The Annie Taylor Award from the David Horowitz Freedom Center for his efforts to fight illegal immigration.

Pearce and other honorees were recognized with a ceremony during the David Horowitz Freedom Center’s Restoration Weekend 2010, an annual event for conservatives to discuss issues that affect “security” and “American freedoms.”

The award’s namesake, Annie Edson Taylor, was the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel. She braved the falls in 1901, in a barrel she designed herself. When she exited the barrel, she said: “No one should ever do that again.”

Environment
• Alex Cabillo, Hualapai, was recognized as this year’s Arizona recipient of the EPA Environmental Award for tribal environmental protection. He was honored with other winners during the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 12th annual Environmental Awards Ceremony in downtown Los Angeles Dec. 2.

As water resources manager for the Hualapai, Cabillo’s efforts have led the tribe to establish and administer several Clean Water Act programs that serve as a model to other tribes. He oversaw the cleanup of an abandoned cistern, located near one of the tribe’s drinking water wells, that contained a creosote-like substance. He coordinated the cleanup effort with several agencies for more than two years, successfully removing more than ten tons of contaminated materials from the site.

Cabillo is a long-time participant on the EPA’s National Tribal Operations Committees, serves on the National Tribal Water Council and has been a strong tribal voice since the council’s inception.