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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fiftieth Legislature – Second Regular Session
Minutes of Interim Meeting
House Hearing Room 3 -- 2:00 p.m. or on recess or adjournment of Floor
Chairman Vogt called the meeting to order at 2:38 p.m. and roll call was taken by the secretary.
Representative Ted Vogt, Chairman
Representative Steve Farley
Representative Eddie Farnsworth
Representative Peggy Judd
Representative Debbie McCune Davis
Members Absent
None
Ethics complaint filed against Representative Daniel Patterson
Chairman Vogt stated that the
purpose of the meeting is to consider the matter of
Daniel Patterson. On February 27, 2012, an ethics complaint was filed with his
office, which he circulated to all of the Members the next day. On March 12,
2012, Representative Patterson filed a written response that was also circulated
to the Members. While Representative Patterson contested the content of the
complaint that has no substance in it per se, he is asking for more time to
respond; however, the complaint was filed, there is some corroborating evidence
and charges were filed in Tucson. The Committee can consider recommending to
the Speaker the hiring of independent counsel to investigate the issues laid
out in the complaint and report back to the Committee.
Representative Farnsworth commented that it is important for the Committee to obtain the facts and it would be beneficial to hire independent counsel to investigate the complaint.
Representative
Farnsworth moved that the House Ethics Committee request that the Speaker of
the House of Representatives retain special counsel to investigate and report
whether significant evidence exists that
Representative Daniel Patterson has engaged in illegal or unethical conduct in
violation of law or the rules of the House of Representatives. The motion
carried by a roll call vote of 5-0-0-0 (Attachment 1).
Discussion followed about a timeline for independent counsel to report back to the Committee and for Representative Patterson to respond to the initial complaint that was filed.
Representative
Farnsworth moved that the House Ethics Committee recommend that any report of
special counsel be completed by
March 28, 2012. The motion carried by a roll call vote of 5-0-0-0 (Attachment
2).
Chairman Vogt stated that the deadline for Representative Patterson to submit a written response shall be March 28, 2012.
Without objection, the meeting adjourned at 2:47 p.m.
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Linda Taylor, Committee Secretary
March 15, 2012
(Original minutes, attachments and audio on file in the Chief Clerk’s Office; video archives available at http://www.azleg.gov)
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HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE
March 13, 2012
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