Most Arizona legislators are telling their constituents, during weekend town halls, that the State is broke and all government agencies must tighten their belts. According to a report prepared by the Yellow Sheet, Legislative staff appears to be exempt.
The Yellow Sheet reported that one GOP “policy advisor” received a 24-percent raise. Not only did salaries increase, but those receiving salaries increased.
Arizona House leadership provided former Attorney General Tom Horne staffers safe and lucrative places to land. As an example, Stephanie Grisham was hired as the Press Secretary making $25,000 more than her predecessor. Since taking over from Leone, little communication has emanated from the House. Both Grisham and Brett Mecum, who was brought in as a policy advisor, spent much of their time in Horne’s office working on his failed re-election campaign.
From the Yellow Sheet:
| 2014 House GOP staff | ||
| Brian Townsend | Director of Policy | 122,325 |
| Tami Stowe | Director of Operations | 120,000 |
| Peter Gentala | General Counsel | 116,450 |
| Lorenzo Romero | Fiscal Policy Director | 100,000 |
| Lesli Sorensen | Policy Advisor | 92,000 |
| Pele Peacock | Policy Advisor | 89,000 |
| Megan Martin | Policy Advisor | 83,000 |
| Brooke White | Policy Advisor | 75,000 |
| Christopher Leone | Communications Specialist | 75,000 |
| 872,775 |
| 2015 House GOP staff | ||
| Tami Stowe | Chief of Staff | 130,000 |
| Lesli Sorensen | Deputy Chief of Staff | 125,000 |
| Peter Gentala | General Counsel | 140,000 |
| Brett Mecum | Maj Strategy & Policy Advisor | 100,000 |
| Stephanie Grisham | Press Secretary | 100,000 |
| Travis Swallow | Policy Advisor | 117,000 |
| Megan Martin | Policy Advisor | 93,000 |
| Pele Peacock | Policy Advisor | 93,000 |
| Brooke White | Policy Advisor | 93,000 |
| Daniel Godzich | Policy Advisor to maj ldr | 90,000 |
| VACANT | Communications Specialist | ?? |
| 1,081,000 | ||
| 2014 House Dem staff | ||
| Keely Varvel Hartsell | Chief of Staff | 114,450 |
| Rhonda Barnes | General Counsel | 94,500 |
| Elvy Barton | Sr Policy Advisor | 63,000 |
| C Murphy Hebert | Comms policy advisor | 66,150 |
| Cynthia Aragon | Const & Comm Outreach Director | 68,250 |
| Eric Figueroa | Policy Advisor | 55,650 |
| Elizabeth Goodman | Staff Attorney | 60,900 |
| Mark Bogart | Consultant | 49,920 |
| Jennifer Harris | Policy Advisor | 52,500 |
| Lourdes Pena | Policy Advisor | 40,000 |
| 665,320 |
| 2015 House Dem staff | ||
| Keely Varvel Hartsell | Chief of Staff | 118,883 |
| Rhonda Barnes | General Counsel | 99,225 |
| Elvy Barton | Sr Policy Advisor | 67,150 |
| C Murphy Hebert | Comms Director | 71,442 |
| Cynthia Aragon | Const & Comm Outreach Director | 71,663 |
| Eric Figueroa | Policy Advisor | 61,102 |
| Alan Eder | Policy Advisor | 50,000 |
| Jennifer Harris | Research Analyst | 57,750 |
| Lourdes Pena | Policy Advisor | 44,074 |
| Brenden Foland | Research Analyst | 42,000 |
| 683,289 | ||