Arizona Citizens for the Arts Recognizes 53 Arizona Legislative Arts Heroes in 2013

The 53 Arizona legislators from districts across the state who voted to restore funding to the Arizona Commission on the Arts and Arizona State Parks have been named 2013 Arizona Legislative Arts Heroes by Arizona Citizens for the Arts, a statewide arts advocacy organization.

During the most-recent legislative session, a bi-partisan group of senators and representatives approved one-time allocations of $1 million each from the state Rainy Day Fund to the Arizona Commission on the Arts (ACA) and Arizona State Parks. The Arizona Commission on the Arts will use the additional funding for statewide grants to arts and cultural organizations.

Thirty-seven Democrats and 16 Republicans from the Arizona Senate and House of Representatives were chosen "for their bipartisan and collaborative efforts to restore critical funding that will benefit the entire state of Arizona," said Catherine "Rusty" Foley, executive director of Arizona Citizens/Action for the Arts. "We are grateful that this coalition put the best interests of the citizens of Arizona first by providing support for arts and culture organizations that do so much for the vitality of communities all over our state."

Legislators will receive their awards at events scheduled in September, October and November throughout the state.

Members of the Arizona Senate receiving the award are:

Steve Pierce, Republican, District, D-1; Linda Lopez, Democrat, District ,D-2; Olivia Cajero Bedford, Democrat, District 3; Lynne Pancrazi, Democrat, District 4; Jack Jackson Jr., Democrat, District 7; Barbara McGuire, Democrat, District 8; Steve Farley, Democrat, District 9; David Bradley, Democrat, District 10; Rich Crandall, Republican, District 16; John McComish, Republican, District 18; Anna Tovar, Democrat, District 19; Michele Reagan, Republican, District 23; Katie Hobbs, Democrat, District 24; Bob Worsley, Republican, District 25; Ed Ableser, Democrat, District 26; Leah Landrum Taylor, Democrat, District 27; Adam Driggs, Republican, District 28; Steve Gallardo, Democrat, District 29; Robert Meza, Democrat, District 30.

Members of the House of Representatives receiving the award are:

Karen Fann, Republican, District 1; Andrea Dalessandro, Democrat, District 2; Rosanna Gabaldón, Democrat, District 2; Sally Ann Gonzales, Democrat, District 3; Macario Saldate IV, Democrat, District 3; Juan Carlos Escamilla, Democrat, District 4; Lisa Otondo, Democrat, District 4; Doris Goodale, Republican, District 5; Jamescita Peshlakai, Democrat, District 7; Albert Hale, Democrat, District 7; Frank Pratt, Republican, District 8; T.J. Shope, Republican, District 8; Doug Coleman, Republican, District 8; Victoria Steele, Democrat, District 9; Ethan Orr, Republican, District 9; Stefanie Mach, Democrat, District 10; Bruce Wheeler, Democrat, District 10; Heather Carter, Republican, District 15; Jeff Dial, Republican, District 18; Bob Robson, Republican, District 18; Lupe Chavira Contreras, Democrat, District 19; Mark A. Cardenas, Democrat, District 19; Chad Campbell, Democrat, District 24; Lela Alston, Democrat, District 24; Juan Mendez, Democrat, District 26; Andrew Sherwood, Democrat, District 26; Ruben Gallego, Democrat, District 27; Catherine H. Miranda, Democrat, District 27; Kate Brophy McGee, Republican, District 28; Eric Meyer, Democrat, District 28; Martín J. Quezada, Republican, District 29; Lydia Hernández, Democrat, District 29; Jonathan Larkin, Democrat, District 30; Debbie McCune Davis, Democrat, District 30.

For more information, visit www.azcitizensforthearts.org.

About Arizona Citizens for the Arts: Arizona Citizens for the Arts acts as the eyes, ears and voice of arts and culture in public policymaking by increasing discussion,awareness and support for the importance and impact of the arts in achieving quality of life, educational excellence and economic vitality in Arizona. Arizona Citizens for the Arts presents the Governor's Arts Awards annually with the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the Office of the Governor.

To post a comment, you must register and login.