Category: Campaign Finance

Members of Katie Hobbs inaugural committee donated $100,000+ to her campaign

PHOENIX — Democratic Governor-elect Katie Hobbs announced the members of her inaugural committee on November 30, a roster that includes lobbyists and campaign donors.

There are at least six current and former lobbyists on the inaugural committee: Reginald Ballantyne III, Mario Diaz, Fred DuVal, Neil Giuliano, John Graham, and Ron Ober.

The committee also includes 21 donors to the Democrat’s gubernatorial campaign: Moe Asnani, Diaz, Veronica De La O, Toni Denis, DuVal, Pam Grissom, Daryl Kling, Lewis Guthrie, Nestor Guzman, Susan Guzman, Sharon Harper, Oliver Harper, Kim Khoury, Simon Kottoor, Elizabeth Kottoor, Francis Najafi, Dionne Najafi, Ober, Victor Smith, Benee Hilton-Spiegel, and David Tedesco. In total, these individuals have contributed at least $100,295 to Hobbs since 2021 alone.

A table containing the itemized campaign contributions can be found by clicking the “Continue reading →” line.

The remaining members of the inaugural committee not listed above are Andy Denis, Jennifer DuVal, Kathleen Graham, Balbir Grewal, Gizette Knight, Donalyn Milkes, Gail Gordon, William Perry, and Jay Spiegel. Hobbs recently named several campaign donors to her transition team and as her chief of staff as well.

Continue reading Members of Katie Hobbs inaugural committee donated $100,000+ to her campaign

Katie Hobbs fills transition team with lobbyists, campaign donors

PHOENIX — Democratic Governor-elect Katie Hobbs announced the members of her incoming administration’s transition team on November 21, a roster that includes lobbyists and campaign donors.

The co-chairs of the transition team are Mike Haener and Monica Villalobos. Haener is a principal at the government relations firm Willetta Partners. Villalobos is the president and chief executive officer at the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

There are at least 15 current and former lobbyists on the transition team: Haener, David Adame, Ron Butler, Chris Camacho, Chad Campbell, Coral Evans, Marisol Garcia, John Graham, Martin Harvier, Andy Kunasek, Jim McLaughlin, Peggy Neely, Jackie Norton, Tonya Norwood-Pearson, and Stephanie Parra. Their notable lobbying clients have included the Arizona Education Association (teachers union), Arizona State University, Chicanos Por La Causa, and various labor unions.

The transition team also includes at least 9 members who built up Hobbs’s campaign war chest. Haener, Neely, Norton, Norwood-Pearson, Sharon Harper, and Danny Ortega donated to Hobbs directly, while Graham, Harper, Adame, and John Giles hosted a fundraiser for the candidate on September 20.

The remaining members of the transition team not listed above are Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren, Marlene Galan-Woods, Steve Gallardo, Berdetta Hodge, Jen Longdon, Garrick McFadden, Lynne Pancrazi, Frank Piccioli, Regina Romero, Fabian Sandez, Alfred Urbina, Mary Rose Wilcox, and Bob Worsley.

Hobbs declared victory in the gubernatorial race on November 15 but has been accused of “deliberately” antagonizing lawmakers ahead of her inauguration.