Eighteen members of the House are newly-elected, and two members will be freshmen in the Senate. Five current House members were elected to serve in the Senate.
The incoming legislators will serve under new leadership teams, which could dramatically impact the way the legislature does business. Senator Bob Burns (R-9), current Appropriations Committee Chair, was elected to replace outgoing Senate President Tim Bee (R-30). Senator Chuck Gray (R-19) will serve as Senate Majority Leader, and Senator Pamela Gorman (R-6) will be Senate Majority Whip.
The Senate Democratic Caucus elected Senator Jorge Garcia (D-27) as Minority Leader, Senator Rebecca Rios (D-23) as Assistant Minority Leader and Senator Linda Lopez (D-29) as Minority Whip.
Members of the House surprised many by ousting the longtime leaders of both caucuses. Speaker Jim Weiers (R-10) was replaced by Representative Kirk Adams (R-19), who will work with Representative John McComish (R-20) as Majority Leader and Representative Andy Tobin (R-1) as Majority Whip.
Representative David Lujan (D-15) will replace current Minority Leader Phil Lopes (D-27). Representative Krysten Sinema (D-15) was elected as Assistant Minority Leader and Representative Chad Campbell (D-14) will serve as Minority Whip.
Following
news that state revenues continue to fall, legislative leaders met with Governor Napolitano on Thursday to begin discussions on the FY09 budget deficit.
The Governor and legislators agree that the FY09 deficit is expected to reach $1.2 billion, a number that is based on recent reports that September's general fund collections were $125 million below forecasts.
Both sides now agree that a special session is necessary prior to the new legislative session in January, but a specific date has not yet been set. Work has begun on a solution: the leaders plan to meet with their budget staffs early next week to evaluate shortfall options, and the Governor plans to meet with legislative leaders again by the end of next week.
Navajo County Evaluates Jail Needs
Concerned by an increasing population and overcrowding, three Navajo County supervisors conducted a comprehensive tour of the county jail this week in an effort to get a firsthand look at conditions that may cause the county to consider an expansion of the facility.
Joined by Jail Commander Matt Searles, Supervisors Percy Deal, Jesse Thompson, and David Tenney spent nearly two hours walking through the entire county jail complex, including its maximum security, juvenile, and female units.
The tour included an examination of various challenges the jail faces in its effort to protect Navajo County residents, including:
Overcrowding: The jail's population has been steadily rising for nearly ten years and is reaching capacity. On the day of the tour, the jail's population stood at 404, just 40 inmates shy of its total capacity.
Infrastructure: The jail's increasing population has strained its existing resources, staff, and physical facilities. This includes its kitchen, laundry, and medical office, all of which are providing services for a population that is nearly double what they were designed for.
Costs: Jail costs have risen dramatically, along with its increased population. The supervisors observed jail staff at work in all areas of the facility, including those in the maximum security area where the most dangerous inmates are housed.
"This was an enlightening and informative tour," Supervisor Thompson said. "There are many issues facing our jail, and we felt it was important for us to see these problems with our own eyes."
Supervisor Tenney expressed alarm at the jail's overcrowding. "In many areas, the inmates are triple-bunked to maximize the space available, but there just isn't any more space. I don't see how we continue to operate the jail without more space in the future."
Most other counties in Arizona are facing the same problems in their jails and are seeking responsible ways to meet their criminal justice mandates. Coconino County successfully obtained additional funding for their Jail District last year; this week, Yavapai County voters rejected a proposed increase in the Jail District rate.
This week, voters around the state selected new county supervisors to fill 14 empty seats in 10 of Arizona's counties. 
There will be many changes at the state legislature next year, though the Republican party maintained its hold on the majority in both the House and the Senate. The Senate Republicans are expected to have an 18-12 majority, while the House majority will likely see a 35-25 advantage.