GOP mum on Konopnicki's passing

(PNI) A strange silence … Former state Rep. Bill Konopnicki was laid to rest last weekend in Safford, his home of many decades.

A passel of current and former state lawmakers attended, including former senators Carolyn Allen and Tom O'Halleran, former House members PeteHershberger and Jennifer Burns, Secretary of State Ken Bennett and Attorney General Tom Horne (who found a place to sit with some of the Democrats who attended).

A carpool of former House Speaker Kirk Adams and three of Konopnicki's House colleagues -- Rich Crandall, Adam Driggs and John McComish -- made an honorary stop en route at a McDonald's in Globe (Konopnicki's firm runs a string of the fast-food restaurants in rural Arizona).

Although there were many individual tributes to Konopnicki when he died last month, the state Republican Party never issued a statement.

Many of those running the party considered Konopnicki a Republican in name only because of his push for immigration reform and his willingness to work with Democrats.

Likewise, the state House, where he served four terms, was strangely quiet.

There was no media release, although the House found time to express remorse for former staffer John Mills after he was indicted by a federal grand jury.

An elephant stampede … If you believe the votes coming out of Republican county committees, there's a virtual posse lining up to run Senate President Steve Pierce and House Speaker Andy Tobin out of their leadership posts.

It started in Pinal County, where the Republican committee approved a resolution calling for an end to the "failed leadership" of Pierce and Tobin.

The Maricopa County Republican Party followed suit and late Friday, the Navajo County GOP said "me too."

The R's, or at least the farther-right wing of the party, are unhappy with Pierce and Tobin for not advancing some "tea party"-ish legislation and for failing to support Republican candidates such as Sen.Frank Antenori of Tucson in tough races.

They're also peeved that the Republican Victory Fund, an independent expenditure committee for which Pierce raises money, poured big bucks into Crandall's primary race against Rep. John Fillmore (violating the 11th commandment of GOP politics, which says you shouldn't speak ill of your fellow party members).

The legislative caucuses are expected to elect their leaders on Wednesday.

The anti-Pierce forces are coalescing behind Sen. Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert; the toss-Tobin crowd is looking to Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, who is hoping to cross over from the Senate to the House in Tuesday's election.

Quote of the week: "Do you know who I am?" ? Rep. David Burnell Smith, R-Cave Creek, after Scottsdale police stopped his erratically weaving car. Smith was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Compiled by Republic reporters Mary Jo Pitzl and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez. Get the latest at politics.azcentral.com.

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