Konopnicki to run for Speaker of the House

By Adam Gaub, Assistant Editor
Published on Thursday, July 20, 2006 4:05 PM MST

With his stock rising rapidly in the Legislature, District 5 Rep. Bill Konopnicki will try for the Speaker of the House position.

Awarded recently by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry as one of two winners of the "Representative of the Year" award, Konopnicki (R-Safford) made the announcement at the Good Morning Breakfast Thursday.

"A lot will depend on the elections," Konopnicki said. "If those were to develop the right way, (I) would have a significant shot at leadership in the House."

Konopnicki expressed gratitude for the support he receives from his home district and said he has been encouraged lately to push for a leadership role.

"One of the reasons I put my name in the hat is I had a lot of people around the state asking me to do it," he said. "We'll just have to see how it goes."

Konopnicki discussed the failures and successes of the state Legislature this term while also emphasizing the importance of the 19 different initiatives that will be on the ballot this fall.

He expressed particular frustration with an immigration bill vetoed by Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano earlier this year.

"What was the saddest about this is that we could have had a very significant immigration bill passed," Konopnicki said, "(but) it was more important for the House leadership to get a veto from the governor. That kind of posturing really hurts the state of Arizona."

Konopnicki said there were several bills pushed through to the governor's desk in vain, because the governor vetoed 43 bills in the recent legislative calendar year.

"Quite honestly - and I'm a solid, strong Republican - were I the Governor, I probably would have vetoed most of them too," Konopnicki said.

He talked as well about other disappointments, such as the failure of the four-year Eastern Arizona College bill, opposed heavily, he said, by the University of Phoenix, which lobbied for its defeat. Konopnicki promised to reintroduce the bill next session.

With mid-term elections due in November, Konopnicki spent a good portion of his talks on issues voters will see on the ballots this fall.

Among the major issues he addressed were two initiatives dealing with smoking bans, an initiative that would change the minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.75 and a repeat initiative that has failed twice already asking for a salary hike from $24,00 to $36,000 for state legislators.

"I obviously don't do this because of the money," Konopnicki said. "People don't realize what it costs to live in Phoenix. Moving that salary up could make a difference in the state."

The breakfast, put on by the Graham County Chamber of Commerce, was held at the Graham County General Services building.

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Comments

11 comment(s)

lorraine wrote on Jan 24, 2010 12:15 PM:

" I AM TRYING TO FIND KARL AND SHARON WATSON THEY USED TO BE A COUNTRY BAND CALL ROJOE AND SAPPHIRE ITS BEEN ALONG TIME .DO I HAVE THE RIGHT ONES ?THANK YOU "

Ian Mccartney wrote on Sep 17, 2008 4:20 PM:

" I went to this camp in the summer of 05 when they were located in concho. I highly doubt that vallentine is telling the truth because when i went they was plenty of food. I remeber that they made us but on spf 50 sunscreen by the gallons. They provided us with gallons of water a day. I think that denton should have stayed in concho because it was a lot better. Big deal the recruits have no ac or water. what to expect bootcamp to be a vaction? And by the way the dirt isnt going to kill you "

H. Craig Bradley wrote on Apr 18, 2008 5:29 PM:

" The percentage of Americans who recreate in the wild outdoors of our National Forests is shrinking all the time. Today's America is predominately an urban/suburban America. Increasingly, individuals can not part with their IPods, Cell Phones, Laptop Computers and Navigational Aides (GPS). Roughing it outdoors is an experience that fewer and fewer individuals are getting "

Anonymous wrote on Apr 3, 2008 5:06 PM:

" Why not tell these people and organizations how you feel?

Vice Principal Kerry Wilson
Principal Robert Beeman
Superintendent Mark Tregaskes
Safford, Arizona Middle School

734 11Th Street
Safford, AZ 85546
Phone Number: (928) 348-7040

http://az.localschooldirectory.com/schools_info.php/school_id/3495 "

THS Alum 2004 wrote on Mar 20, 2008 4:21 PM:

" I graduated with these guys and it's sad to say that I'm really not that surprised. They're meat heads and are a "few fries short of a happy meal". The authorities did nothing wrong, these people made a dumb choice and will have to deal with the consequences.

P.S. Doug did it. "

blah wrote on Mar 6, 2008 8:29 AM:

" Whatever "

colton wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:02 PM:

" i think doug grant is innocent an i think you should not charge him for murder "

saline wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:01 PM:

" hello hello hello hello hello hello "

Michael Jackson wrote on Dec 11, 2007 3:02 PM:

" Why doesn't this newspaper admit that the story reported by Pam Crandall, as related by Jesse MacBeth, in the above article, is a flat out lie??? MacBeth has since admitted that he did not go to Iraq and that he made up all of the stories repeated by Pam Crandall. Please tell the truth. The longer that the Courier stands by these lies the sillier it looks. "

Jesu Christ! wrote on Oct 25, 2007 8:53 PM:

" And the authorities wonder why it is that students have so little respect for authority. If I were this kid (or the kid's mother) I would never look at authority the same way again. "

Daniel Connell wrote on Oct 23, 2007 9:35 AM:

" i am writting to say that this was a harmless prank and just a little fun for these two innocent teenagers. they should have not gotten in that much trouble for just a harmless prank. being a friend to them you wouldnt see it in my view. they were just looking to have fun in safford because there is nothing else to do and jose hernandez should have not been sent to ADJC on his first crime he ever commited. "

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