David Lujan

Legislative preview, House districts 11-15
LD11This is the most likely pickup for the Republicans this year. Democrat Mark DeSimone resigned his seat this summer after his wife accused him of physically abusing her. The district has historically been a Republican district and Republicans will be making a hard push to assure both seats are returned to the caucus.

A firestorm of controversy was touched off when Rep. Russell Pearce (R-Mesa) and the House Appropriations Committee transformed a homeland security bill, SB1108, into one that would ban teaching in a manner that is contrary to "American values" and "Western civilization."

Though aimed specifically at a Raza Studies program in the Tucson Unified School District, criticism arose claiming the bill was too broad and raised troubling First Amendment issues. Tom Horne, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, who would be in charge of enforcing the law, agrees. So, apparently, does Russell Pearce.