Steve Pierce

Biographical Information

The following is from ALIS for the 50th Arizona State Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2011):

Steve Pierce
Majority Whip  
Republican  District 1
Senate
1700 W. Washington
Room 212
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone Number: (602) 926-5584
Fax Number: (602) 417-3224 
Email Address: [email protected]
Home City: Prescott
Occupation: Rancher
Member Since: 2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A third-generation Arizonan, Steve Pierce was born in Phoenix in 1950. He moved to Prescott while in grade school when his dad, Delbert, acquired the first of several ranches now known as the Las Vegas Ranch.  He was raised on the family ranch where he learned the value of hard work at a young age. A graduate of Prescott High and the University of Arizona, Steve has continued the family tradition of ranching. Steve and his wife Joan have been married for 35 years. They raised their four children in Prescott, and are now blessed with four grandchildren.

He graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. His family has been ranching in Arizona since 1915, and Steve himself has five decades of experience working as a rancher.

Steve has served in various cattle and agriculture organizations, both locally and nationwide, such as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Board, the US Meat Export Federation, and the Arizona Beef Council. In addition, Steve has served on the Board of Directors of County Bank, the Anasazi Foundation and the Central Arizona Partnership. Steve is active with the Yavapai County Republican Party, where he was elected as Chairman, and has been elected to the State Executive Committee for the Arizona Republican Party for the last five years

Steve has always been an excellent steward of the land for which he is responsible. He was recognized for his efforts in 1983 when the Arizona Section of the Society for Range Management named Steve and his father Delbert “Range Managers of the Year”.

In the Senate, Steve is the Senate Majority Whip and serves as Vice Chairman of Natural Resources and Transportation Committee and member of Rules Committee.

November 10, 2011, Sen. Pierce was elected President of the Arizona State Senate replacing Sen. Russell Pearce and he was replaced as Majority Whip by Sen. Frank Antenori.  (Mary K. Reinhart. "New Arizona Senate president chosen:  Steve Pierce of Prescott." azcentral.com, November 10, 2011)  He was confirmed in the office at the beginning of the Regular Session, January 9, 2012.  ( Mary Jo Pitzl and Alia Beard Rau. "Arizona Legislature convenes; new Senate president confirmed." azcentral.com, January 9, 2012)

The following is from ALIS for the 50th Arizona State Legislature, 2nd Regular Session (2012):

Steve Pierce
President-elect  
Republican  District 1
Senate
1700 W. Washington
Room 205
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone Number: (602) 926-5584
Fax Number: (602) 417-3224
Email Address: [email protected]
Home City: Prescott
Occupation: Rancher
Member Since: 2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Steve Pierce was elected President of the Arizona State Senate in November 2011. His term began the following January at the start of the 2nd Regular Session of the 50th Legislature. Prior to his rise to the Presidency, Steve served in Senate Leadership as Majority Whip, having been elected by his Caucus to that position just seven months after being elected to the Senate.

Steve is a third-generation Arizonan. He was born in Phoenix and moved to Prescott when he was entering the 8th grade, after his father Delbert bought the first of several ranches now known as the Las Vegas Ranch. Steve still lives and works on the ranch with his wife Joan, raising Herefords and Black Angus. The Pierces have four grown children and four grandchildren.

He is a graduate of Prescott High School and the University of Arizona, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. After college, he headed back to the family ranch, where he has worked for forty years. In addition to the Las Vegas Ranch, the Pierces have a ranch near Payson.

Steve is active in agricultural organizations, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Board, the U.S. Meat Export Federation and the Arizona Beef Council. He’s served on the Central Arizona Partnership, the Board of Directors of County Bank and the Anasazi Foundation. He has been Chair of the Yavapai County Republican Party and has been elected to the State Executive Committee for the Republican Party for the past five years. Steve has won numerous awards, including 2010 Senator of the Year by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

As Senate President, Steve’s top priority will be to improve the regulatory and economic climate of our State, so Arizona businesses can thrive and create new jobs.

Steve believes in constructive, practical solutions that will improve Arizona and the quality of life for all its citizens.

Education

Bachelors: Animal Science, University of Arizona, (n.d.)

Employment

Arizona Legislative Service

Sources

Birth: 2009 Guide to the 49th Legislature (green book); Occupation(s): green book Education: ALIS 50th Arizona State Legislature, 2nd Regular Session (2012).