By Adam Gaub
Maricopa Monitor
Breaking with current party leadership, the Pinal County Republican Committee announced its endorsement this weekend of Maricopa’s Steve Smith for Speaker of the House in the State Legislature.
Smith, who is currently serving as a senator for District 26, is running for a House seat this fall so as to avoid a primary election faceoff against fellow Republican Al Melvin. It was Melvin who made the floor motion to support Smith for speaker against current speaker Andy Tobin.
Melvin said the move is one made with the aim of bringing more conservative leadership to the Arizona Legislature.
“He’s been very strong on the border,” Melvin said of Smith. “He would make sure bills relating to border security would pass.”
In addition to supporting Smith’s candidacy, Melvin and the Pinal County Republicans are also backing Sen. Andy Biggs, of Gilbert, in his bid for the senate presidency against Sen. Steve Pierce.
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