An attorney for Sen. Carlyle Begay called Rep. Albert Hale’s request that the Apache County Attorney’s Office challenge Begay’s recent appointment to statewide office an “inappropriate attempt… to advance his own agenda” and raised questions about the legality of such a challenge.

New senator has lived in many homes far from his district

By all accounts, new state Sen. Carlyle Begay is highly qualified for public office.

He has impressed lawmakers, county and city officials and even the Governor’s Office with his credentials as a student of public health. And he boasts extensive work with American Indian communities as the vice president of business development at the American Indian Health Management and Policy group in Phoenix, where he has worked since 2006.

The Apache County Attorney’s Office will seek to remove Sen. Carlyle Begay from office unless the freshly sworn-in lawmaker can present evidence proving his proper residency is within the county, not the town of Gilbert.

Gilbert or Ganado — New senator faces challenge over residency

Mere hours after he was sworn into the Arizona Senate, Democrat Carlyle Begay faced a challenge to his seat on the grounds that he doesn’t live in the district he was appointed to represent.

Only hours after he was sworn into the Arizona Senate, Democrat Carlyle Begay faces a challenge to his seat on the grounds that he doesn’t live in the district he was appointed to represent.

An attorney for Rep. Albert Hale is preparing a legal challenge to the newest appointee to the Arizona Senate, who is scheduled to be sworn into office Tuesday morning.

State Rep. Albert Hale, who sought an appointment to a vacant state Senate seat, is challenging the Apache County Board of Supervisors’ decision to send a nominee who lives in Gilbert to the Capitol.

The award for best legislative batting average for the session — the calculation of bills introduced versus bills signed into law — goes to Rep. David Livingston, a freshman Republican lawmaker from Peoria who has been vocally critical of the governor.

Arizona legislators are imposing new restrictions on demonstrations and other public gatherings at the Capitol complex, a reaction to loud noise and congestion resulting from activities that include protests against legislation on illegal immigration in the past two years.

This week's most outstanding quips, gibes and utterances.