WHAT ARE RAMIFICATIONS OF PEARCE RECALL?

posted by Michael Chihak

Some have called Russell Pearce the most powerful person in Arizona state government.

Hearing that statement, Pearce likely would demur, pointing to fellow Republican Gov. Jan Brewer who in fact vetoed a number of bills that Pearce and other Republicans backed in the last legislative session.

All right, then, make that the most powerful man in state government.

What happens if that most powerful man is knocked out of his seat in the recall election scheduled in two weeks? First, there clearly are others in the Republican Senate leadership ready to step in, with the No. 1 candidate likely t be Majority Leader Andy Biggs.

Second, his removal won't deter him from seeking the seat again in the 2012 election, he has said.

The issues around the Pearce recall, Pearce's approach to immigration and other issues he is involved in as Senate president will be the focus of Friday's Arizona Week broadcast, with this caveat: that we get an interview with Pearce.