Arizona treasurer candidate Jeff Weninger/Gage Skkidmore/Flickr
By Ryan Randazzo | Arizona Republic
Republican lawmaker Jeff Weninger says he can do a better job than the current state treasurer, and he wants the office to ensure the state’s finances are not invested based on social causes but on sound business decisions.
Weninger, who is seeking the Republican nomination for treasurer in the Aug. 2 primary, was first elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2014. His district includes Gilbert, Sun Lakes and a large portion of Chandler. He is married and has three children, the youngest of whom is 15.
“I think it’s important to have someone in there who is going to be there every day working, takes it seriously and who works really well with the Capitol community, with the other statewide electeds and with the Legislature,” Weninger said.
Weninger is originally from Wichita, Kansas. He moved to Arizona when he was in his early 20s, in 1993, and he and a business partner launched their first restaurant.
He said he began working when he was 14 and got into restaurant work because as a child he was “the poor kid” among his group of friends and he “had to keep up with the Joneses. Keep up with my friends that had cars.”
Because the work paid well, that’s where he directed his career. The first restaurant was Dilly’s Deli in Tempe and he later opened Floridino’s in Chandler a few years later. Combined, the restaurants employ about 100 people.
Dilly’s also now has a location at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
After moving to Phoenix he met his wife on a trip back to Kansas. She later moved here and after they got together she helped run Floridino’s.
“We built it together for sure,” he said. “It’s a true family business.”
