League Legislative Award Recipients

The League honored 52 members of the Arizona Legislature for their work during the 2018 legislative session on Thursday, August 23 during the Annual Conference Awards Luncheon.

The legislators were recognized for their commitment to local government decision-making and providing support to cities and towns in their districts and statewide.

"We are grateful for our dedicated and supportive legislators who recognize the level of government closest to the people is the most effective," said Chandler Mayor and League President Jay Tibshraeny. "We are pleased to honor them for their continued service and commitment to keeping cities and towns great places to live and work."

The League’s legislative agenda includes two basic core principles: commitment to local decision-making by the elected leaders of cities and towns, and a commitment to the revenue sharing system established by the voters through a series of initiative measures.

The League’s highest honor goes to "Legislative Champions." This year, they are:

• Senator Sonny Borrelli (R-Lake Havasu City)
• Senator Kate Brophy McGee (R-Phoenix)
• Representative Doug Coleman (R-Apache Junction)
• Senator Karen Fann (R-Prescott)
• Representative Charlene Fernandez (D-Yuma)
• Representative Randy Friese (D-Tucson)
• Senator Katie Hobbs (D-Phoenix)
• Senator Lisa Otondo (D-Yuma)
• Senator Martin Quezada (D-Glendale)
• Representative Rebecca Rios (D-Phoenix)
• Senator Bob Worsley (R-Mesa)

Additionally, these legislators are being recognized as "Friends of Cities and Towns."

• Representative Lela Alston (D-Phoenix)
• Representative Richard Andrade (D-Glendale)
• Representative Brenda Barton (R-Payson)
• Representative Wenona Benally (D-Window Rock)
• Representative Isela Blanc (D-Tempe)
• Senator Sean Bowie (D-Phoenix)
• Senator David Bradley (D-Tucson)
• Representative Kelli Butler (D-Paradise Valley)
• Senator Olivia Cajero Bedford (D-Tucson)
• Representative Noel Campbell (R-Prescott)
• Representative Ken Clark (D-Phoenix)
• Representative Todd Clodfelter (R-Tucson)
• Senator Lupe Contreras (D-Avondale)
• Senator Andrea Dalessandro (D-Green Valley)
• Representative Eric Descheenie (D-Chinle)
• Representative Timothy Dunn (R-Yuma)
• Representative Kirsten Engel (D-Tucson)
• Representative Mitzi Epstein (D-Tempe)
• Representative Diego Espinoza (D-Tolleson)
• Senator Steve Farley (D-Tucson)
• Representative Rosanna Gabaldón (D-Green Valley)
• Representative Sally Ann Gonzales (D-Tucson)
• Senator Rick Gray (R-Sun City)
• Representative Pamela Powers Hannley (D-Tucson)
• Representative Drew John (R-Safford)
• Senator John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills)
• Representative David Livingston (R-Peoria)
• Representative Ray Martinez (D-Phoenix)
• Senator Juan Mendez (D-Tempe)
• Senator Robert Meza (D-Phoenix)
• Senator Catherine Miranda (D-Phoenix)
• Representative Tony Navarrete (D-Phoenix)
• Senator Jamescita Peshlakai (D-Window Rock)
• Representative Gerae Peten (D-Goodyear)
• Senator Frank Pratt (R-Casa Grande)
• Representative Marcario Saldate (D-Tucson)
• Representative Athena Salman (D-Tempe)
• Representative T.J. Shope (R-Coolidge)
• Representative Michelle Udall (R-Mesa)
• Senator Steve Yarbrough (R-Chandler)
• Senator Kimberly Yee (R-Phoenix)

"Cities and towns are where the economic activity of the state occurs and where nearly 80 percent of the people live," said League Executive Director Ken Strobeck. "The state of Arizona is economically strong when its cities and towns are successful and when we work in partnership with state government to provide excellent services to our shared constituents," he said.