Pete Hershberger,
Arizona’s Champion for Children

Pete Hershberger served his first term in the Arizona House of Representatives in 2001-2002, becoming the first person in the history of the State of Arizona to follow both of his parents into the same seat. With redistricting District 12 became District 26, essentially the same district in which a Hershberger has served in the House for four decades.

Pete firmly established himself in his own right in his first term. Utilizing his extensive experience in education, business, juvenile justice and child welfare he became a leader and a common sense voice in the House of Representatives. Pete pledged in his campaign to work with both Republicans and Democrats alike to solve the very real problems faced by the State of Arizona. He has done just that and in doing so, has become a leader in pushing for opening up the legislative process.

In his second term Pete continued to establish himself as a leader. In addition to his appointment as Chairman of the Human Services Committee, Pete founded and became Co-chair of the Children?s Caucus. The caucus successfully supported children?s issues and programs in the tough budget cutting process resulting in both the ?04 and the ?05 Budgets.

Pete grew up in northwest Tucson. He attended Harelson Elementary the first year it opened in 1960 and began his political career at age 15 campaigning for Barry Goldwater for President. He graduated from Amphitheater High School in 1967, earned his Bachelor of Arts from Colorado College in 1971 and a Masters of Education from the University of Arizona in 1977.

Pete worked for the Arizona Department of Corrections with juveniles from 1972 to 1977 and was co-founder and co-owner of New Columbus, Inc. from 1977-1999, working with delinquent and abused children and their families. As a small business owner, he learned the importance of small business to the well being of the community. He dealt with making payroll and government regulations while providing a service to the community. He has been certified and licensed by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners as a Certified and now Licensed Professional Counselor since 1991. Pete has over twenty-five years of valuable experience in contracting, budgeting and provision of service to state agencies, including the Department of Economic Security, Administrative Office of the Courts, Department of Juvenile Corrections and Department of Health Services.

In 1998 Governor Hull appointed Pete to serve as the Pima County representative on the State Board of Directors for Community Colleges of Arizona, which provided governance and oversight for the state?s Community College system. He served three years prior to his election to the legislature. He was a member of the Board?s legislative committee and gained extensive and valuable knowledge of our state?s Community College system in workforce development and training our citizens to gain better paying jobs.

In the community, Pete has been active in the Rotary Club of Tucson since 1991 including two years on their Board of Directors. He has been a Precinct Committeeman for 16 years and was given a Copper Certificate Award by the United Way for Service to the community. Pete is currently a Flemming Fellow and is participating in the national Flemming Fellowship Leadership Class of 2004. Pete was also a member of the Leadership 2000 class of the Greater Tucson Leadership and a member of the 2001 class of the Southwest Leadership Program for State and Local Government.

On a national level Pete is Chairman of the Human Services Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures. He has been one of nine Legislators nationally to be a member of the Legislative Working Group of the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child and he received the federal Office of Child /Support Enforcement Legislator of the Year Award for 2003 and the Center for Policy Alternatives? National Legislator of the Month for March 2004.

Pete Hershberger established himself as a hard working, respected member of the House of Representatives with uncommon courage and integrity. Utilizing his Republican principles, he has advocated for education, children?s issues, business rights and opening the legislative process to public scrutiny and participation. Pete has been a strong voice for Arizona, Southern Arizona and District 26.