Michelle Ugenti-Rita

Michelle Ugenti-Rita
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 23rd district
Assumed office
January 14, 2013
Serving with John Kavanagh (2013-2015)
Jay Lawrence (2015-present)
Preceded by John Fillmore
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 8th district
In office
January 10, 2011 – January 14, 2013
Serving with John Kavanagh
Preceded by Michele Reagan
Succeeded by T. J. Shope
Personal details
Born (1980-06-28) June 28, 1980
Nationality American
Political party Republican
Residence Scottsdale, Arizona
Alma mater Arizona State University
Website michelleugenti.com

Michelle Ugenti-Rita[1] (born June 28, 1980) is an American politician and a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives representing District 23 since January 14, 2013.[2] Ugenti previously served consecutively from January 10, 2011 until January 14, 2013 in the District 8 seat.

Education

Ugenti graduated from Arizona State University.

Career

Ugenti sponsored a number of bills to reform voter initiatives.[3] Ugenti was the only Republican to oppose a 'Blue Lives Matter' bill that toughens penalties for assaulting off-duty police.[4]

Elections

  • 2016 Ugenti and Jay Lawrence were unopposed in the Republican primary.[5] They defeated Democrat Tammy Caputi on November 8. Ugenti was the top vote getter in the election with 69,758 votes.[6]
  • 2014 Michelle Ugenti and Jay Lawrence defeated Effie Carlson and Bob Littlefield in the Republican primary and were unchallenged in the general election.[7]
  • 2012 Redistricted to District 23, and with incumbent Republican Representatives John Fillmore running for Arizona Senate and Frank Pratt redistricted to District 8, Ugenti ran in the three-way August 28, Republican Primary; Kavanagh placed first, and Ugenti placed second with 18,106 votes.[8] Ugenti and Kavanagh were unopposed for the November 6, 2012 General election, with Ugenti taking the first seat with 68,827 votes.[9]
  • 2010 With incumbent Democratic Representative David Bradley running for the Arizona Senate, Ugenti and Republican incumbent John Kavanagh ran in the six-way District 8 Primary; Ugenti placing second with 9,581 votes.[10] In the November 2 General election, Kavanagh took the first seat, and Ugenti took the second seat with 38,055 votes against Democrat John Kriekard.[11]

Controversy

Ugenti and her husband divorced in 2010. During the case, Ugenti used her legislative privilege after her husband's attorney issued a subpoena to Verizon for her texts.[12] Her husband claimed she was having an affair with a co-worker at the Arizona House of Representatives.[13]

Ugenti was criticized in 2012 for making a joke about masturbation to a colleague during a committee hearing.[14][15]

Four women lawmakers call for Ugenti to be suspended from her leadership role due to alleged affair with House staffer.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Michelle Ugenti's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Michelle Ugenti". Phoenix, Arizona: Arizona State Legislature. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  3. ↑ Graham, David A. "Why Are State Legislators Working to Roll Back Laws Voters Approved?".
  4. ↑ "Ducey signs 'Blue Lives Matter' bill that toughens penalty for assaulting off-duty police".
  5. ↑ "State of Arizona Official Canvass 2016 Primary Election Aug. 30, 2016" (PDF). Phoenix, Arizona: Secretary of State of Arizona. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  6. ↑ "State of Arizona Official Canvass 2016 General Election November 8, 2016" (PDF). Phoenix, Arizona: Secretary of State of Arizona. p. 15. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  7. ↑ "State of Arizona Official Canvass 2014 General Election November 4, 2014" (PDF). Phoenix, Arizona: Secretary of State of Arizona. p. 9. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  8. ↑ "State of Arizona Official Canvass 2012 Primary Election August 28, 2012" (PDF). Phoenix, Arizona: Secretary of State of Arizona. p. 11 & 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  9. ↑ "State of Arizona Official Canvass 2012 General Election November 6, 2012" (PDF). Phoenix, Arizona: Secretary of State of Arizona. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  10. ↑ "State of Arizona Official Canvass 2010 Primary Election - August 24, 2010" (PDF). Phoenix, Arizona: Secretary of State of Arizona. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 20, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  11. ↑ "State of Arizona Official Canvass 2010 General Election - November 2, 2010" (PDF). Phoenix, Arizona: Secretary of State of Arizona. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 20, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Rep. Michelle Ugenti claims legislative privilege in divorce proceeding".
  13. ↑ Stephenson, Hank. "Ugenti: Legislative privilege prevents search for evidence of affair with co-worker – Arizona Capitol Times". azcapitoltimes.com.
  14. ↑ Lemons, Stephen (3 March 2012). "Michelle Ugenti's Masturbation Comment and Her Foot-in-Mouth Disease". Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  15. ↑ "Powerful Arizona lawmaker accused of sexual harassment lashes out at accuser". Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  16. ↑ Pineda, Ben Giles and Paulina. "Four women lawmakers call for Ugenti-Rita, Rios to be suspended from leadership roles in House – Arizona Capitol Times". azcapitoltimes.com. Retrieved 2018-02-05.


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