House Member

Personal Information:

John Kavanagh is a twelve-year resident of District 8, which covers most of Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Tonto Verde and Rio Verde. John and his wife, Linda, have been married for 30 years and have two sons, Jonathan and Nicholas. John is a professor of criminal justice at Scottsdale Community College and director of the college’s Administration of Justice Studies and Forensic Science Program. Prior to teaching at Scottsdale Community College, John taught at Arizona State University and served 20 years as a police officer with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, retiring as a detective sergeant.

John served six years as a town councilman in Fountain Hills and also served three years on the Lafayette, New Jersey Town Council. He is also a Republican State Committeeman, Precinct Captain and member of the Fountain Hills Republican Club.

John was awarded a BA in Liberal Arts from NYU, a Masters Degree in Government from St. John’s University (Queens, NY), and a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Rutgers. He is also a military veteran.

John has also served on or belonged to many other government boards and community service organizations, including a Parks and Recreation Commission, Board of Health, School District Advisory Panel, Planning Advisory Group, Community Center Volunteers, Senior Services Board of Directors, the American Legion, the Civic Association, Historical Society, Friends of the Chamber of Commerce and Scottsdale Republican Forum.