Tag Archives: Arizona Senate

First Native American Arizona Senator dies at age 102.

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Art_HubbardPHOENIX – Arthur Hubbard, Sr., American Navajo Code Talker and Arizona’s first Arizona State Senator, was laid to rest in Phoenix after a service at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale at 102-years old.

Mr. Hubbard was born in January of 1912 in Topawa on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation, but was raised on the Navajo reservation with Christian, Navajo and O’odham traditions.

He joined the Marines and during World War II trained Navajo code talkers who were instrumental in success in the war in the Pacific. They used their native language to describe various Japanese military equipment and movements in their own native language which became the code the Japanese could not break.

Other Native American code talkers were deployed by the United States Army during World War II, including Cherokee, Choctaw, Lakota, Meskwaki, and Comanche soldiers. Soldiers of Basque ancestry were used for code talking by the U.S. Marines during World War II in areas where other Basque speakers were not expected to be operating.

FOX 10 News | myfoxphoenix.com

According to Indian Country, Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly said

“The Navajo Code Talkers are living treasures of the Navajo Nation. With the passing of Arthur Hubbard, Sr., we have lost a true American hero. The Nation offers our heartfelt condolences to the family during this time.”

In 1972 he became the first Native American Arizona Senator and served six terms.

State Senate second readings

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The Arizona State Senate conducted a second reading of several bills on January 12 for the fiftieth legislative session. A bill is required to be read three times before being considered for passage. The brief descriptions given here are from reading the legislation and the authors of the legislation have not been contacted for clarification.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 1007 introduced by Senator Gallardo would allow Arizona voters to amend Article IV, Part 2, Section 6 of the Arizona Constitution relating to the arrest of members of the legislature. It would amend that section to read, “Members of the legislature shall not be subject to any civil process during the session of the legislature, nor for fifteen days next before the commencement of each session.” This strikes the privilege from arrest which Senator Scott Bundgaard evoked amidst charges of domestic disturbance some months ago. He resigned shortly before he was to testify before the ethics committee.

SCR 1008 would declare, “…an emergency within the borders of the State of Arizona and, in order to protect the health, welfare and safety of Arizona’s citizens, notifies all federal agencies with implied de facto authority that due to lack of congressional oversight and the violations of trust with their disregard for strict compliance with the acts of Congress, the State of Arizona will be exercising its right of sovereignty over soil within its boundaries.” The measure is an intent to declare State sovereignty due to the ineptness shown by federal government agencies. They cite the Bear Wallow Fire as an example of the problem. Residents of Williams still recall the frightening events surrounding the Twin Fires of a few years ago when portions of the City had to be evacuated.

In addition, SB 1081 would allow county board of supervisors to take actions to clear the forest of fuel wood and thin trees upon consultation with the State Forester. The job of the State Forester is further empowered by changes that would be enacted if SB 1075 passes.
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