Hayden Samples, the reader at the Arizona House of Representatives, stands out from the sea of dull black, gray and brown outfits with his three-piece suits, colorful bolo ties and boots one might mistake for a snake.

The House majority leader said a “clerical error” led the chamber to prematurely send a ballot referral to the Secretary of State’s Office last month.

House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, said Wednesday that an attorney hired by the House to investigate multiple accusations of harassment made against Rep. Don Shooter, as well as accusations Shooter lobbed at one of his accusers, Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, is nearly finished interviewing witnesses.

When it comes to credibility and building relationships, among the best is Deb Gullett, whose experience in the public policy arena is as expansive as the Arizona sky.

At the Goldwater Institute, Mark Flatten still works to dig up stories, but has the backing of a libertarian think tank that will take his work and advocate to right the wrongs he reports on.

Former House Speaker David Gowan deliberately put off the release of public records last year to buy time to disguise questionable spending by his staff, himself, and fellow lawmakers.

Democratic Minority Leader Rebecca Rios of Phoenix suggested that sexist undertones have marked repeated attempts to silence members of her caucus during debates on the House floor and in committee hearings.

A House panel agreed to ease the rules for when new cities and towns can be formed, a change in law that foes insist will harm the ability of existing communities to grow.

Republican Reps. J.D. Mesnard and Darin Mitchell, along with Republican Sen. Don Shooter, who is planning to move from the Senate to the House this year, are all seeking the top post in the House.

A massive overhaul of Arizona’s campaign finance laws contains a largely overlooked bonus for statewide officials and some others who will be allowed to raise twice as much money from individual contributors than they are now.