Issue: Jill Norgard

Only 24 Arizona legislators managed to both attend work on all of the days they were expected during the 122-day session, and push a button each time there was a vote.

Two of those perfect record-holders were Speaker of the House J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, and Senate President Steve Yarbrough, R-Chandler.

The adjournment of the 53rd Legislature’s first regular session marked Yarbrough’s eighth consecutive year with perfect attendance in the state Legislature. He has also voted on 100 percent of items up for vote since at least 2005, with one exception in 2011 when he only pressed his button for 99 percent of the 50th Legislature’s first regular session’s votes.

“My dad used to say to me, if you want to do a great job, you start by showing up every day,” Yarbrough said.

Thirty-one of Yarbrough’s legislative colleagues made it to work every day this session, too.

The Legislature only calculates attendance on the days the chambers actually do work, which is typically only Monday through Thursday. Some days the lawmakers vote more than once, and some days there are no bills up for vote at all.

All but three of Arizona’s state legislators pushed their buttons for at least 85 percent of floor votes during the 53rd legislative session.

The least frequent voter this session was Rep. Wenona Benally, R-Window Rock, who also happened to miss the most work days. She made it to 79 percent of her work days and only voted 65 percent of the time.

Sally Ann Gonzales, D-Tucson, had the second lowest voting record, only pushing a button for 78 percent of floor votes. Rep. Jill Norgaard, R-Phoenix, and Rep. Jesus Rubalcava,  D-Gila Bend, are not far ahead of Gonzales, voting in 83 and 84 percent of all floor votes, respectively.

The 86 other legislators voted at least 85 percent of the time, and 36 legislators voted 100 percent of the time.

Sen. Steve Montenegro, R-Litchfield Park, beat Rep. Daniel Hernandez, D-Tucson, for the second-worst attendance record by only 1 percent. Montenegro made it to the state Capitol 81 percent of the days he was expected. However, he still managed to vote 91 percent of the time. Hernandez showed up on 82 percent of his days and voted in 85 percent of floor votes.

Montenegro’s 2017 attendance and voting records both show a significant decrease in his overall presence from last year, when he was House majority leader and voted 98 percent of the time and showed up for 94 percent of his work days.