GOP attorney general hopefuls clash over experience

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

SCOTTSDALE — Warren Petersen says his experience in the Arizona Legislature’s leadership ranks makes him uniquely qualified for the job of the state’s Attorney General.

His Republican primary opponent, Rodney Glassman, says prosecutorial experience matters.

The two focused heavily on experience during their May 28 Clean Elections debate in Scottsdale, bashing the other’s perceived lack of relevant experience, taking shots at each other’s campaign tactics and, of course, criticizing incumbent Democrat Kris Mayes.

The bitterness that’s leading up to the July 21 primary not only required moderator Steve Goldstein to interrupt or cut off both men during the one-hour debate, but carried over into the press gaggle afterward.

Glassman, followed by Petersen, both took questions from about a dozen reporters afterward.

“Like President Trump and President Reagan, yes, I changed parties,” Glassman told reporters asking about his dedication to the Republican Party. “I have been a Republican since President Trump announced his run in 2015.”

Petersen criticized Glassman on several fronts. He pointed out that Glassman, now a lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Air Force Reserves, switched party affiliation four times.

The Gilbert state senator also said Glassman’s record of having only won a city council seat and having lost six consecutive elections means Glassman would likely lose to Mayes in November.

Glassman said the same thing about Petersen.

“A Warren Petersen nomination would mean four more years of Kris Mayes,” Glassman said, pointing out Petersen, as president of the Senate since Mayes and Gov. Katie Hobbs were elected, made too many budget concessions to both the governor and Mayes’ office.

Petersen said it’s the role of the legislature to work with the governor on a balanced budget.

Petersen told reporters he said the choice for the GOP nomination is the difference between “someone who’s been an attorney, and a competent, good attorney.

“My opponent sometimes fools non-attorneys, but when I’m with the attorneys, they know — he doesn’t know the law,” Petersen said. “I was the Judiciary and Rules chairman during my time in the legislature. This is unique experience that many attorneys will never have.”

At various points during the debate, Petersen referred to Glassman as a “trust-fund baby’’ a “charlatan,’’ “a joke’’ and “a criminal.’’

Glassman insisted allegations, vaguely described by both candidates, that might involve criminal activity are “false and disgusting.”

Petersen told reporters he believes Mayes has been too busy trying to score political points instead of abating crime.

“When it comes to law enforcement, you never have enough resources, so it’s a matter of priorities,”

Petersen said. “Instead of using millions of dollars to do things like suing the Trump Administration, I’d use that budget to actually fight crime.”

Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.