Jack Harper

Sen. Jack Harper, who was accused of breaking senate rules during the same-sex marriage ban ballot debate this year, was cleared today by a 3-2 vote of the Senate’s ethics committee. Harper had been accused of breaking senate rules when he transferred the right to speak from a senator who was participating in a filibuster. 

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."

CD1 Republican candidate Sydney Hay announced today she has lined up the support of seven state representatives and three state senators, further consolidating her frontrunner status in her primary battle against Preston Korn, her chief rival for the nomination.

The Hay campaign issued a press release saying the legislators have signed a "support pledge" naming her as their pick for the nomination. The list includes state Rep. Bill Konopnicki (R-Safford), state Sen. Jake Flake (R-Snowflake) and state Rep. Andy Tobin (R-Paulden), all of whom had considered running for the seat themselves.

The full list, as given by the Hay campaign, reads:

"Senator Jake Flake and Representative Bill Konopnicki of District 5, Representatives Lucy Mason and Andy Tobin of District 1, Senator Ron Gould and Representatives Nancy McLain and Trish Groe of District 3, and Senator Jack Harper and Representatives Judy Burges and Tom Boone of District 4."

Jack HarperRepublican State Senator Jack Harper was awarded the “Clean Air Champion” award by the Valley of the Sun Clean Cities Coalition, Inc. Harper, known as one of the most conservative members of the Arizona State Senate, and also known to have state-wide aspirations, received the a

A source close to Senator Jack Harper confirms he is indeed interested in running for state-wide office in 2010. Harper, a conservative Republican from Arizona’s 4th district, is serving in his 3rd term and would be term-limited in 2010. The office Harper is most likely to run for is the Secretary of State office currently held by Republican Jan Brewer. Brewer is in her 2nd term and is a likely gubernatorial candidate in 2010.