LD 11 wide open
VIA SBINSIDER |
State Legislative District (LD) 11 which covers all of SaddleBrooke is losing both its current State House members. Mark Finchem, has decided to try and move up and run for Secretary of State and Bret Roberts resigned this past week, effective September 30th, to relocate to a different state. That means both seats will be open in the November 2022 elections.
Roberts’ replacement for the 2022 session will be named by Pinal County supervisors, who will either pick from three candidates recommended by the district’s precinct committeemen if there are more than 30 committeemen in the legislative district, or appoint a citizen panel to recommend three names for supervisors to choose from otherwise.
In Arizona, the House and Senate boundaries are the same, meaning that a candidate for either the House seat or Senate seat covers the exact same area. Currently, the Senate seat is held by Vince Leach who is a SaddleBrooke HOA2 resident. Finchem lives in Oro Valley and Roberts resides in the city of Maricopa.
One possible candidate has emerged for one of the House seats, is Kirk Fiehler, a resident of Eagle Crest who has filed a statement of interest with this quote, ” Yesterday I filed a Statement of Interest to run for the Arizona House of Representatives, representing my District (11) in the 2022 election. Within hours of filing my social media accounts were “restricted”. One more reason to go all in on this. There’s a new breed of politician coming: the average middle class working person. And we’re taking our government back. This Country and the State of Arizona were not founded to be ruled by an elite ruling class. ” A statement of interest is a first step toward a formal campaign. Fiehler’s background includes working as a district manager for Jackson-Hewitt tax preparer’s.
Both House and Senate seats pay $24,000 per annum with per diem for days spent at the Capitol while in session. The Legislative session starts in January and generally ends in May, so the job is considered part time. In reality, members work year around on legislative business and most out-state members come out of pocket to cover the cost of serving.
FUN FACT it has been over 20 years since the state legislators have received an increase in pay.