New Lawmaker Profile: Steve B. Montenegro, R-Litchfield Park

NOTE: This is one of a series of biographical sketches Cronkite News Service is producing about new members of the Arizona State Legislature. Each follows this format and includes a mugshot.

_ Name: Steve B. Montenegro
_ Chamber: House of Representatives
_ Party: Republican
_ Profession: Assistant Pastor-Youth Pastor, Surprise Apostolic Assembly
_ Hometown: Litchfield Park
_ Legislative District: No. 12, which includes the West Valley communities of Surprise, El Mirage, Glendale, Litchfield Park and Goodyear.
_ Committee Assignments: Government; Judiciary.
_ Previous or Current Elected Offices: None.
_ Highlights of Community Involvement: President, Arizona Messengers of Peace; Vice president and cofounder, ASU West Pre-Law Society; Member, TRIO mentoring program.
_ Why He Ran: “I was actually recruited by the state party. I spent about eight months praying about it and seeing if this was the right thing, and I talked to my family and I decided this was the right thing.”
_ His Focus: “We need to make sure that we’re looking out for the taxpayer and government returns to its role, that we don’t have government breathing down the necks of taxpayers.”
_ A Bill: HB 2615 would expand Arizona Department of Administration’s Internet database of receipts and expenditures of state monies to include all local government receipts and expenditures.

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Reporting by Daniel Newhauser, Cronkite News Service

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Rep. Steve B. Montenegro, R-Litchfield Park