Kirk Adams

Kirk Adams (born February 2, 1973) is a former Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives, serving as Speaker from 2009 to 2011. Adams serves as Chief of Staff to Governor Doug Ducey, since Ducey's election in 2014.

Kirk Adams
50th Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives
In office November 6, 2008 – April 29, 2011
Preceded by	James Weiers
Succeeded by	Andy Tobin
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 19th district
In office November 2006 – April 29, 2011
Preceded by	Chuck Gray
Succeeded by	Justin Pierce
Personal details
Born	February 2, 1973 Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	JaNae Adams
Education	University of Phoenix (BS)

Early life and education

Adams was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and graduated from Mountain View High School in Mesa, Arizona in 1991. Adams served a mission on behalf of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tonga.[1]

Political career

Arizona legislature

Adams was first elected to the Arizona legislature in 2006.[2] During his tenure in the State House, Adams endorsed legislation which resulted in the largest permanent tax cut in Arizona history. As Speaker, Adams took on public-employee unions, authoring legislation to reform Arizona's pension system for public employees by raising the retirement age, eliminating cost of living adjustments, preventing employees from receiving a pension while working, reducing benefits for elected officials and requiring police officers, firefighters, elected officials and corrections employees pay more for their pensions.[3] Adams opted out of the elected officials retirement plan, earning him recognition from the National Taxpayers Union.

As Speaker, Adams supported Arizona's immigration reform bill and solicited outside funding to defend the measure in court.[4]

2012 congressional campaign

In the spring of 2011, Adams resigned from office to announce that he would run in 2012 for Congress in Arizona's 5th congressional district, after redistricting, the seat left open by Jeff Flake. He was then defeated by former Congressman Matt Salmon in the primary.

A few weeks after losing the primary, Adams became president of Americans for Responsible Leadership a political lobbying non-profit 501(c)(4). Adams has claimed as one of his responsibilities the allocation of funds[5] and directed $750,000 spent opposing Arizona Proposition 204, and $450,000 against Proposition_121. Under Adams' direction Americans for Responsible Leadership funneled a total of $11 million given by undisclosed sources via Americans for Job Security and the Center to Protect Patient Rights to groups in California who used the money to oppose California's Proposition 30 and support the anti-union Proposition 32. Prop 30 won, Prop 32 was defeated and California's Attorney General is considering a money laundering investigation against Americans for Responsible Leadership and those that directed its funds.[6][7][8][9]

Chief of Staff, Governor of Arizona

On December 2, 2014, Governor-elect Doug Ducey announced that Adams, who was already a co-chair of Ducey's transition committee would become his chief of staff. Ducey said, "Kirk's accomplishments, talent and knowledge are second-to-none" and "his record as a policy leader, consensus-builder and budget expert will assist in my efforts to work closely with the Legislature to balance the budget, and put in place policies that encourage job creation and economic growth. I have the utmost confidence in Kirk and I am very pleased he will serve as my chief of staff."[10]

Adams was said to be a leading contender to fill the United States Senate seat vacated by the late Senator John McCain.[11][12][13]

Personal life

Adams and his wife JaNae live in Mesa and have six children.[14] Adams is a Latter-day Saint.[1][15]

References

1. Leingang, Rachel. "Kirk Adams: Longtime chief of staff loves complexity of role – Arizona Capitol Times". azcapitoltimes.com. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
2. "About". Kirkadams2012.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
3. Harris, Craig (February 8, 2011). "New Arizona bill aims at pension reform". Arizona Republic. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
4. Gambino, Lauren (February 2, 2011). "Bill would allow legislative leaders to join SB 1070 legal fight". Tucson Sentinel. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
5. Roberts, Laurie (November 3, 2012). "Closed club's cash piles up vs. open primary". Azcentral.com. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
7. Yamamura, Kevin. "Capitol Alert: FPPC says Arizona nonprofit laundered money to CA campaign". Blogs.sacbee.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
8. "SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, MINUTE ORDER" (PDF). Blogs.sacbee.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 28, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
9. "California's $11 Million Campaign Donation Source Tied To Koch Brothers, Research Reveals". Huffingtonpost.com. November 5, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
10. Pitzl, Mary Jo (December 2, 2014). "Ducey taps former House speaker to lead staff". AZCentral. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
11. "Arizona Governor Faces a Tough Choice: A Senator Made From McCain's Mold or Trump's". Retrieved August 30, 2018.
12. Bradner, Eric. "How Arizona will fill John McCain's seat -- and who might fill it". CNN. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
13. "What Will Happen to John McCain's Senate Seat?". Fortune. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
14. "Kirk Adams biography". Arizona State Legislature. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
15. STAR, Daniel Scarpinato ARIZONA DAILY. "Mormons now issue in gay vows". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved August 30, 2018.

External links

• Official Arizona House of Representatives website
• Appearances on C-SPAN