By Ananya Tiwari |Arizona Republic
Two candidates running for the Arizona House of Representatives in the Aug. 2 primary have incidents of domestic violence in their past.
Republican Christian Lamar, 37, and Democrat Scott Podeyn, 59, are candidates running for the House in Legislative Districts 2 in north Phoenix and 29 in Surprise, respectively.
Lamar was convicted of domestic assault against his then-fiancé in Phoenix in 2015. Podeyn was charged with aggravated assault against a relative in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2014.
Neither served prison terms — Lamar had to fulfill various conditions set by the municipal court of Phoenix and served one day in confinement. Podeyn was released on bail the day after his arrest, and the case was later dismissed as the victim did not wish to press charges.
Lamar maintains his innocence, despite three courts upholding the conviction. He also sued the officer on duty that night, the Phoenix Police Department, the city and other departments over the arrest. The case was dismissed, however.
Podeyn, who said he has a medical history of anxiety, alcoholism and depression stemming from his military service, said the incident was a result of then-undiagnosed post traumatic stress disorder from watching videos of missile strikes while he was a weapons manager in the 1990s. Podeyn was awarded two military medals for his work with the missiles in 2000.
Podeyn’s assault against child
In July 2014, Podeyn, an Air Force veteran, was arrested for aggravated battery after choking a 22-year-old relative following a heated argument. He was released on a $15,000 bond the day after, according to the criminal complaint filed by the Albuquerque Police Department.
Podeyn said in an interview that he has “holes in his memory” of that night, when his relative said “something” to him and it triggered a violent reaction.
