Republican politician, Arizona State Senator (from 1992-2000 and 2005-2010), and member of the Arizona House of Representatives (from 2000-2004). Beginning in 2011, he also served as Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction.
After graduating from Northern Arizona University with a degree in mechanical engineering, he attended the graduate business administration program at Arizona State University.
During the 1980s and early 1990s, he was a two-term city councilman in Chandler City, Arizona.
Though born in Indiana, he spent most of his childhood in Arizona. His marriage to Jennifer Huppenthal resulted in two daughters.
He and fellow Republican Russell Pearce both served in the Arizona Senate.
