Warde Nichols

Arizona House Speaker-elect Kirk Adams has made his selections for who will chair the House's standing committees in the next session of the legislature.

Daniel's News & Views, the blog run by state Representative-elect Daniel Patterson (D-Tucson), had the announcement posted Wednesday.

According to Patterson, the list is:

Appropriations – John Kavanagh
Commerce – Michele Reagan
Education – Rich Crandall
Environment – Ray Barnes
Banking & Insurance – Nancy McLain
Government – Sam Crump

Legislative preview, House districts 21-25

LD21
Republicans Warde Nichols and Steven Yarbrough are both running for re-election in this Republican stronghold. Nichols was hoping for another 2004 where the Republican team was unchallenged. Nichols won the second seat by a little less than 2000 votes in 2002 and that number was cut in half in 2006 when Nichols beat Phil Hettmansperger by less than 1000 votes. Hettmansperger was so encouraged his showing that he is back for a rematch this year and campaigning hard. Nichols and Yarbrough, both going after their 4th consecutive terms, are hoping to hold off Hettmansperger one more time.    

Arizona’s 5th congressional district Republican primary was supposed to be one of the most exciting races we have seen in a long time. To date, it has been very quiet in actuality. Things seem to be picking up though as the primary date is quickly approaching. Here are some updates we have received.

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."