Eddie Farnsworth

Janet Napolitano had a good week as Barack Obama claimed the nomination.  Read this week’s Winners and Losers to see who else made the list.

With Senate President Tim Bee on his way out the door, LD22 Republican Thayer Verschoor is in line to become the next senate president if Republicans hold onto the state senate.  Because LD22 Republican Rep. Eddie Farnsworth is term-limited, In a normal election year they would change seats.  But with the possibility of senate president in front of him, local Republicans think it is unreasonable for anyone to think Verschoor would move over to a state representative seat.

If Farnsworth decided to take one term off, the senate seat would be his and the Republicans would rally around him for being a loyal team player.  Except that’s not the case.  Farnsworth has decided to challenge Verschoor for the seat in the September primary. 

Today a group of 15 Arizona legislators hurled the latest volley in the battle between Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and the Arizona Bar Association, writing a letter in support of Thomas and calling for sanctions against the Bar.

"Obviously it is time to curtail the powers and duties of the State Bar," read the letter, which was signed by a group of Republican members of the Arizona House and Senate. The lawmakers said the ABA "is violating the principles of the separation of powers" by attempting disciplinary action against Thomas. Thomas claims that the ethics complaints that have been lodged against him through the Bar are "retaliation" for trying to enforce Proposition 100, which was passed by a large majority of voters in 2006 and denies bail to illegal immigrants.

Thomas filed a complaint against the Arizona Bar Association with the state Supreme Court, which has oversight of the ABA. In the letter, the legislators applauded his move and recommended the Bar's oversight powers be "shifted to the Court or to an independent agency."

Just a week ago Inside Edge reported State Rep Eddie Farnsworth was leaning towards not launching a primary challenge against Senate Majority Leader Thayer Verschoor.  Farnsworth had been under pressure not to challenge Verschoor, who is the likely successor to Senate President Tim Bee, if Bee were to win his

Republican Thayer Verschoor, the Majority Leader from LD-22, looked to be facing a primary challenge last fall from State Rep.  read more »