The Gilbert Unified School District is supporting two different legislative bills that would allow the district to participate in the state’s Career Ladder program.

Banning photo radar on Valley freeways? Voted down twice in the state House of Representatives after sailing through the Senate. Applying organized crime penalties to ecoterrorists?

May 11, 2005

Senate President Bob Burns shook up his leadership team - at least to the extent he can - in a bid to ease the way to adopting a revised state budget. Burns ousted Sen. Thayer Verschoor, R-Gilbert, from the position of president pro-tem. That person, who presides over the Senate in the absence of the president, is considered part of the leadership team.

Veteran Republican lawmaker Russell Pearce solidly led his opponent, Democrat Judah Nativio, in the race for Senate District 18 Tuesday night. In unofficial returns, Pearce held nearly 60 percent of the vote in the Mesa district.

Three Gilbert residents have begun campaigns to oust the town’s state legislators from office in the November election.

Three Gilbert residents have begun campaigns to oust the town’s state legislators from office in the November election.

Public notices

Glenn Ray may not have won a seat in the Arizona Senate, but he’s not giving up his campaign for universal and physician-controlled health care. Ray, a Mesa Democrat who ran against Sen. Thayer Verschoor, R-Gilbert, in the November legislative election, has begun a campaign that he said will lead to a voter initiative on the 2008 ballot.

Eighth-graders at Gilbert’s Highland Junior High School on Monday pushed to allow students to bring electronics to school, have more social time, and be given free water bottles.

Gilbert's eyes are expected to be glued to the bottom line in 2010.

Former Arizona House Speaker and Republican Party activist Jeff Groscost died Friday at his Mesa home, according to family friends and lawmakers. State Sen. Karen Johnson, a close friend of Groscost, said he had recently undergone gallbladder surgery but had come home from the hospital and told family and friends that he felt fine. He died Friday morning of a heart attack.

Former Arizona House Speaker and Republican Party activist Jeff Groscost died Friday at his Mesa home, according to family friends and lawmakers. State Sen. Karen Johnson, a close friend of Groscost, said he had recently undergone gallbladder surgery but had come home from the hospital and told family and friends that he felt fine. He died Friday morning of a heart attack.

State lawmakers could save more than $1 billion this fiscal year if they would cut funding for universities, limit enrollment in the Kids Care health insurance program, reduce funding to public schools and take money earmarked for road construction and instead use it to pay the salaries of Department of Public Safety officers.

Calling it illegal, immoral and Big Brother, some state lawmakers are moving to kill the 4-month-old statewide system of fixed and mobile speed cameras.

An open state House of Representatives seat in the November race for the largest legislative district in Gilbert raises the question of whether the political landscape will change for the town at the state Capitol.

When it comes to political power, the quiet bedroom community of Gilbert carries a big stick. The once tiny farm town is home to more than 180,000 residents and three of the state Legislature’s most influential lawmakers.

When it comes to political power, the quiet bedroom community of Gilbert carries a big stick. The once tiny farm town is home to more than 180,000 residents and three of the state Legislature’s most influential lawmakers.

With fire service a key issue in the District 22 legislative race, water has appeared as an important secondary topic. No, the six candidates for the Republican primary in September aren’t talking about setting up a bucket brigade to douse fires in the Gilbert area.

With fire service a key issue in the District 22 legislative race, water has appeared as an important secondary topic. No, the six candidates for the Republican primary in September aren’t talking about setting up a bucket brigade to douse fires in the Gilbert area.

Mike McClellan: Gilbert's budget problems have been a mini-version of what's been going on at the state Capitol. The difference, of course, was that the Gilbert Town Council and town staff had been able to reach decisions. Until Tuesday night.

A two-year battle between Gilbert officials and county islands residents is poised to be resolved this year as town officials extend a hand to begin negotiating toward providing fire service to county islands.

Adelaida Severson was chosen Thursday by the Gilbert Unified School District as the nominee to fill a vacancy on the governing board.