Across the ideological spectrum in Arizona’s GOP one thing is clear, new leadership is needed. Steve Pierce, of Prescott, was voted out as Arizona Senate President, and Andy Biggs, of Gilbert was voted in when senators-elect met yesterday in a private room at the Phoenix Children’s Museum.
Andy Tobin, retained his position as the Speaker of the House, and is joined by Sierra Vista Representative David Gowan who was elected as House Majority Leader, and West Valley Representative Rick Gray, who was chosen by his Republican colleagues to serve as House Majority Whip.
“I am humbled and honored by the faith and trust my colleagues have shown in my leadership of the House,” Tobin said in gratitude. “I am also grateful for the mandate the people of Arizona have given to the Republican-led majority. I am looking forward to maintaining the strength and cohesion of our caucus as we continue to lead Arizona down the path to economic recovery and prosperity.”
Many arrived at that conclusion that Pierce had to go during the Republican Primary races in which poured money into certain primary races to strengthen his grasp on his own power and to the detriment of the Party in the General Election.
All the while political predator, Constantin Querard, was licking his chops waiting for his chance to seize power. As he orchestrated the political power play, the sacrificial lamb, Andy Tobin wondered how he got caught up between the two wolves.
There was little doubt in almost anyone’s mind that Pierce would lose his leadership position. Even his most loyal soldiers have wondered if they would be tossed under the runaway Pierce bus as it makes its way to the Governor’s mansion.
And that is what it is all about for Pierce; the Governor’s Mansion. For Querard it is about power, but mostly it is, and has always been about making money according to his friends. It is about ego according to his enemies, and his desire to have one of “his” candidates in a position of power in the Legislature again.
As for Tobin, legislators saw through the smears put out by embattled GOP Chair Morrissey, and the Querard crew member, Pinal County Chair Stephen Kohut, against Tobin. As Speaker of the House, Tobin has spent months on the rubber chicken dinner circuit on behalf of all of his House members whether they are on the same end of the ideological spectrum or not.
One legislator said, “You know, Andy got caught up in Pierce’s scandal. Pierce is a nasty piece of work and Tobin doesn’t deserve to be painted with the same brush. You gotta hand it to CQ, he sure does know how to stir shit up.”
Pierce has been roundly criticized for misleading donors about where and when the money would be spent. Just last week, Pierce all but admitted to breaking campaign finance laws by steering monies from the IE.
While Tobin, keeping his hands off the IE cookie jar, gave very clear instructions that the House’s IE monies should and would only be sent getting Republicans elected in the General Election.
The “revolt” as the Yellow Sheet calls it, gained steam due to the claims coming out of Pinal County that their resolution to go after Pierce and Tobin was won in a unanimous vote, however according to Pinal County Party members on 35 of the 300 plus members actually voted on the resolution.
But the blood was in the water and CQ and his cronies did all they could to ignore the day they have all waited for; General Election Day 2012, and focus on the power move. CQ didn’t get what he wanted, but for Querard, the outcome of this election is not as important as the money to be made on the next one.