After trying to tear the Republican Party of Arizona apart, Senator John McComish is seeking a position as Justice of the Peace in the Kyrene Justice Court. McComish (LD 18) announced this week that he will be retiring from the Arizona Senate at the end of his current term of service in January 2015.
McComish said the decision was “profound” and “difficult.” However, it was most likely not as difficult as the Republican Primary he would have faced had he decided not to retire.
“I’ve had the privilege and honor to represent the residents of LD 18 for many years in both the House and Senate, and my decision to close this chapter of my public service career has been arduous. Based on my long experience, I believe that now is the time to hand off the reins to the next wave of responsible, reasonable leadership,” said McComish. He is endorsing Jeff Dial, an Arizona representative, who worked with Democrats last year, along with McComish, to institute Obamacare Medicaid expansion in the state.
It was that issue, and the method employed by McComish and other opportunistic corporatists who joined statists in both the Senate and House, that caused a rift in the Republican Party. Working with the Governor at the behest of large healthcare organizations, who stand to make millions off of expansion, legislators such as McComish, Robson, Worsley, Orr and Dial neutered the Republican leadership and forced a late night vote, while the public slept.
In his statement announcing his decision, McComish said that Dial “is fully committed to taking my place in the Senate.” McComish says that he is ready to “open the next chapter” in his life and is seeking the position as Justice of the Peace for the “routine pace of work” and a “predictable schedule.”
As one Republican operative said, “Got to hand it to John, he is always looking to make his life a little easier on the public’s dime.”