Mary Jo Pitzl

The Republic | azcentral.com

Arizona House Speaker David Gowan and three other Republican state lawmakers are the target of an ethics complaint filed Tuesday by House Democratic leaders.

The complaint alleges Gowan, as well as House Majority Leader Steve Montenegro, R-Litchfield Park; and Reps. Darin Mitchell, R-Litchfield Park; and Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale; violated state travel policy by using vehicles "for potentially non-official purposes and/or were reimbursed for travel for which they were not entitled to reimbursement."

In addition, they complain Gowan "appears" to be using his state staff to help in his run for Congress. They cite news stories of state staff traveling with Gowan around the state and to Washington, D.C. They also question whether Gowan turned to House attorneys for advice prior to his request last week in which Gowan asked state Attorney General Mark Brnovich to investigate his travel activity.

The request from House Minority Leader Eric Meyer, D-Paradise Valley, and assistant leader Rep. Rebecca Rios, D-Phoenix, asks for an immediate investigation by the House Ethics Committee. Rep. David Stevens, R-Sierra Vista, and Gowan's seat mate, is chairman of the committee.

The complaint also asks Gowan and Montenegro to step down from their leadership positions while the Ethics Committee is doing its work.

No one will be stepping down, House majority spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a curt statement about the complaint.

"This a politically convenient pile-on by Democrats, an insider newspaper, and a personal-injury attorney," Grisham said.

"It is highly partisan political smearing in an election year. The first sentence tells you all you need to know – 'based on our personal knowledge from media reports.' "

The Democrats' complaint relies heavily on an Arizona Capitol Times story that examined House members' travel. The January report prompted Gowan to review his travel records, and last month, he reimbursed the state $12,066 for what he said were unintended charges to the state.

He blamed the problem on his assistant filing mileage claims on his behalf because she thought he was traveling on state business in his personal vehicle. In actuality, he was using a state vehicle, he said. He added that the review showed all of his trips were for state business and didn't involve any personal travel, such as for his campaigning for the Republican nomination in Arizona's 1st Congressional District.

Chandler attorney Tom Ryan, the attorney referenced by Grisham, has also said he intends to file a complaint about Gowan's travel practices.

Last week, Gowan asked Brnovich to investigate his travel, writing that it was important to clear the air. But his request did not extend to suggestions he has used state staff to promote his congressional ambitions.

Meyer and Rios said although Gowan asked for an investigation, none of the other lawmakers noted in the story for questionable travel did not.

"Although we support an independent investigation by the attorney general, we believe it is incumbent upon members to hold each other accountable, to ensure that no member has broken any House rules or state laws, and to take responsibility for any such violations," their complaint states.

Rep. Stevens is reviewing the complaint and will decide whether to convene the Ethics Committee.

Arizona House speaker to attorney general: Investigate me

Arizona House speaker repays state $12K for travel errors

Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonrepublic.com and follow her on Twitter @maryjpitzl.