By Daniel Stefanski |
A former state legislator is seeking to return to the Arizona House of Representatives.
On Thursday, former Representative Jeff Weninger sent out an email announcing that he was “back in the fight,” telling those on his email list that he was “excited to announce that I’m running for State Representative in the new Legislative District 13.”
Weninger served in the state house for four terms before running for Arizona Treasurer in the Republican primary in 2022. He also was a member of the Chandler City Council for eight years.
Constituents of this legislative district are currently served in the state house by Representatives Jennifer Pawlik (a Democrat) and Julie Willoughby (a Republican). Willoughby was selected by the Maricopa Board of Supervisors to fill a vacated seat earlier this legislative session. On May 2, Pawlik announced that she would not be seeking reelection. The Democrat wrote that “it’s time to take my leadership and service in a new direction and to open the door for new candidates to run in this district.”
In his email, Weninger shared that, over the past year, he had moved his son to college, helped his daughter begin her high school journey, spent more time with his business, and invested in his community. He noted that “things are going really well” for him – but “unfortunately not every Arizonan feels the same way.” The former lawmaker stated that “inflation and prices are climbing, energy costs are higher than ever, and parents are struggling with decisions on the best educational environment for their kids.”
He went on to boost his track record with his prior service in the state house, highlighting that he “fought to lower your taxes, keep our cost of living affordable, support our first responders, and make Arizona one of the most business-friendly states in the country.”
Just last month, Weninger engaged Democrat Senator Mitzi Epstein on Twitter over the issue of the food municipal tax repeal, which was vetoed by Governor Hobbs after passing through the Republican-controlled Legislature in the spring. Weninger posted: “Sen. Epstein…. In your tweet you said “And NOT another regressive sales tax causing the middle class to pay for everything – again!” How do you square that with your opposition to eliminating tax on food? (essential item to live)”
After Epstein replied to his query with her worry that the elimination of the food tax would result in “less funding for after-school childcare,” Weninger responded, “Why not just let those folks who need after school care just keep more of their money from food taxes? Also Schools and Boys & Girls Club & ICAN provide after school care in Chandler & they do a wonderful job.”
He later added another comment to the discussion, saying, “I don’t really hear an argument against it. It is just the same parlor tricks of telling people that by letting them keep their money it somehow takes something away from them.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
