Former Republican lawmaker David Burnell Smith, 73, who narrowly lost a bid for the Arizona House of Representative in August, died of natural causes at his Scottsdale home last Friday.
Burnell Smith served in the House from 2005 until he was removed by the Arizona Citizens’ Clean Election Commission in January 2006 for spending violations. He returned to the House in 2011, but lost his 2012 campaign for re-election.
Burnell Smith attempted to make a comeback to the Capitol this year, but lost a three-way GOP primary this August in North Phoenix’s Legislative District 15 by a mere 32 votes.
Information from multiple media outlets
