Tag Archives: Arizona House of Representatives

Nevada Becomes 36th State to Ratify ERA. Is Arizona Next? (video)

Posted on March 24, 2017 by | 7 comments
Pamela Powers Hannley on ERA

“Arizona, I’m looking at you” to pass the Equal Rights Amendment, says Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley on the occasion of Nevada’s passage of the ERA.

Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was proposed in eight states in 2017: Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Missouri, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina and Illinois. On March 22, 2017– the 45th anniversary of Congress starting the ratification process in 1972– Nevada became the 36th state in the US to ratify the ERA.

To make the ERA the next amendment to the US Constitution, we need two more states to ratify it and the Congress to extend the deadline, which they have done before.

On the Floor of the Arizona House on Wednesday, when I announced the ERA’s success in Nevada, I said, “Arizona, I’m looking at you.”

Arizona women deserve equality and equal pay for equal work. We won’t get that until we pass the Equal Rights Amendment because the ERA puts teeth in the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

Continue reading →

7 Comments

Posted in Arizona State Legislature, Civil Rights, Congress, Constitution, Economics, GOP War On..., Justice, Labor, Pamela Powers Hannley, Political Events

Tagged , , , ,

Pima County Board of Supervisors votes to ban texting while driving

Posted on May 17, 2016 by | 3 comments

Pima County Bd. of Supervisors in a unanimous vote (5-0) today passed an ordinance to ban texting while driving a motor vehicle, effective within a month.  The ban however, still allows speaking on a cell phone. Here’s what the ordinance states:

“A person may not, while driving a motor vehicle on a highway, manually manipulate a handheld electronic device for any purpose other than to initiate, receive, or engage in voice communication.”

Penalties:

“A person who violates this section and is not involved in a motor vehicle crash is subject to a civil penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00), plus any other penalty assessments authorized by law. D. A person who violates this section and is involved in a motor vehicle accident is subject to a civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00), plus any other penalty assessments authorized by law.”

Exemptions are law enforcement and emergency personnel, bus drivers, while on private property, and while the vehicle is stationary.

Several persons (mostly bicyclists) testified in favor of this proposed ordinance brought forth by the Pima County Sheriff’s Dept.  Sheriff Chris Nanos spoke in favor of this proposal, as did LD 9 State Senator Steve Farley, who said he was the first to introduce this type of legislation in the Arizona House of Representatives 10 years ago. Apparently only Arizona and Montana have no state laws against texting while driving. Firefighter Brendon Lyons testified about being severely injured when hit by a “distracted driver” on Oct. 4, 2013. He showed a video of the accident and his long, painful recovery. He also brought in a mounted display of his shattered bicycle. Oro Valley Vice Mayor Lou Waters testified in favor as well, for the sake of “public safety”.

Continue reading →

3 Comments

Posted in Carolyn Classen, Community, Tucson

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

UA Law Professor Kirsten Engel enters race for LD 10 House

Posted on January 20, 2016 by | 1 comment

Press release from Professor Kirsten Engel:

UA Law Professor Kirsten Engel

UA Law Professor Kirsten Engel

Kirsten Engel, a professor at the University of Arizona College of Law and the former Academic Dean, has launched her campaign for State Representative for Arizona Legislative District 10. A Democrat, Engel is running for the seat that will be vacated by House Minority Whip Bruce Wheeler with his endorsement.
“I have been honored to serve LD 10 and to fight for Southern Arizona. Kirsten Engel is a fantastic choice to continue my work” said Wheeler. “Kirsten is a highly qualified candidate whose passion for public education and the environment, together with her legal know-how and proven leadership abilities, will be great assets to the District.”
Asked why she decided to run for the State House, Engel was matter-of-fact: “The State is facing a crisis in education; from K-12, to JTED, to community colleges, to our world-renowned Universities. As the mom of a child in public school, as a lawyer and as a university teacher, I felt I could represent the interests of those most disadvantaged by the Republican legislature’s failure to fund education adequately. I’m running to make the case that an investment in education means a better economy for all Arizonans.”
Engel lives in Tucson with her husband Scott Saleska, who also teaches at the University of Arizona, their 11-year old daughter, and two dogs, Gracie and Zoey. Kirsten’s parents live down the street.
“I’m excited to use my skills and passion to make a difference for kids and working families here in Southern Arizona,” Engel said. “Tucson has become our family’s home; there’s so much we can do in Arizona if we had better leadership.” Engel recently served as the Academic Dean of the University’s Law College, a position she used to help expand programs and opportunities for students.
Engel is just as passionate about the environment, extolling the necessity of protecting our water and landscapes, and the opportunity for using Arizona’s natural resource of sunny skies to build an economic future in sustainable energy. “We all know that our future living in the desert requires us to preserve and enhance our state’s resources. This is serious business; we can’t afford to wait.”
Engel’s official campaign kickoff is Friday January 22nd, for details or to learn more about her candidacy and stance on the issues you can visit www.EngelForArizona.com.  Email is engelforarizona@gmail.com, FB page :https://www.facebook.com/EngelForArizona/?fref=ts

 

Kirstenkickoff

Carolyn’s note: Current LD 10 House rep. Bruce Wheeler will not be seeking re-election. The other LD 10 House Rep. Stefanie Mach is seeking re-election. Activist Courtney Frogge has already announced her candidacy, so there will be three candidates (so far) in the August 30, 2016 Democratic primary for these 2 House seats.

1 Comment

Posted in Carolyn Classen, Community, Elections, Tucson

Tagged , , , , , , ,

LD Precinct committee persons nominate Pam Powers Hannley, Matt Kopec, & Ted Prezelski for appointment for LD 9 House Vacancy

Posted on January 15, 2016 by | Comments Off on LD Precinct committee persons nominate Pam Powers Hannley, Matt Kopec, & Ted Prezelski for appointment for LD 9 House Vacancy
LD 9 precinct committee people met tonight at the Pima County Democratic Party  headquarters,  4639 E. 1st St. There were 42  PCs in attendance, with 18 proxies of 71 PCs total  in LD 9.
 Four Democratic candidates were seeking the appointment for the vacancy created by this week’s resignation by Democrat LD 9 House Rep. Victoria Steele.  Victoria, in her 2nd term, resigned to run for CD 1 House in the Dem Primary against Dr. Matt Heinz, who also formerly served in the Arizona  House of Representatives.  The winner of that primary on August 30, will face off with incumbent 1st term Congresswoman Republican Martha McSally.
Candidates for this vacancy in LD 9 , who addressed the meeting (listed in alphabetical order). 31 votes would be needed for any candidate to be nominated (50% plus 1 vote, per state law).
– Larry Bahill, former AZ State Representative (1973 to 1981, Minority Leader), former director of Pima County Elections, then Registrar of Voters, former 1st Vice Chair of Pima County Democratic Party, member of Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame (Navy reserve)
– Pamela Powers Hannley, progressive blogger at Tucson Progressive and Blog for Arizona, already a declared candidate for this House seat,  managing editor of the American Journal of Medicine
– Matt Kopec, council aide to Ward 3 Councilmember Karin Uhlich, Treasurer of the Pima County Democratic Party
– Ted Prezelski, council aide (management analyst) to Ward 2 Councilmember Paul Cunningham, had run before for former- LD 28 House seat in August, 2010 primary, founder of former Rum, Romanism and Rebellion blogsite
Pamela Powers Hannley, blogger at Tucson Progressive & Blog for Arizona

Pamela Powers Hannley, blogger at Tucson Progressive & Blog for Arizona

Matt Kopec, Ward 3 Council Aide

Matt Kopec, Ward 3 Council Aide

Tom Prezelski, Council Aide to Ward 2 Councilmember Paul Cunningham

Ted Prezelski, Ward 2 Council Aide

Following the welcome by LD 9 Chair Brian Clymer,  former AZ State Party Chair Bill Roe, now First Vice Chair explained the voting process. After the speeches by all four candidates, voting was done by the 60 PCs, and Powers Hannley got 47, Prezelski got 45, and Kopec got 35 votes.
These 3 names will now be submitted to the Pima County Bd. of Supervisors, who will appoint the successor to this seat at their January 19, 2016 regular board meeting. That meeting starts at 9 a.m. at 130 W. Congress St. , first floor meeting room. The appointment will run through the Nov. 2016 election for this position.

 

 

 

Comments Off on LD Precinct committee persons nominate Pam Powers Hannley, Matt Kopec, & Ted Prezelski for appointment for LD 9 House Vacancy

Posted in Carolyn Classen, Community, Elections, Tucson

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,