Felecia Rotellini Explained

Felecia Rotellini
Office:Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party
Term Start:January 27, 2018
Term End:January 23, 2021
Predecessor:Alexis Tameron Kinsey
Successor:Raquel Terán
Birth Place:Sheridan, Wyoming, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Education:Rocky Mountain College (BA)
University of Notre Dame (JD)

Felecia Rotellini is an American attorney and politician who served as chair of the Arizona Democratic Party from 2018 to 2021. Rotellini spent 13 years as an assistant state attorney general before serving as the superintendent of the Arizona State Banking Department under Governor Janet Napolitano.[1] She twice ran for attorney general in 2010 and 2014.

Early life and education

Felecia Rotellini was born and raised in Sheridan, Wyoming[2] to Clarice (née Koebbe) and Anselmo "Sam" Rotellini.[3]

Rotellini developed an interest in politics due, in part, to her paternal grandfather who was a coal mining union organizer in the now defunct-town of Cambria, Wyoming.[4] While attending Rocky Mountain College, Rotellini participated in a Girls Staters event where Senator Gale W. McGee urged the crowd to "each make a political commitment." As part of the activities of the event, Rotellini was elected as one of the "councilmen" for the mythical town of Cottonwood City.[5]

Rotellini received her bachelor's degrees in history and political science (magna cum laude) from Rocky Mountain College in 1981, and a Juris Doctor from Notre Dame Law School in 1986.[6]

Career

She passed the State Bar of Arizona bar examination in 1986[7] and was admitted to the State Bar of Arizona on October 25, 1986.[8]

Rotellini began her career working as an attorney in private practice from 1986 until 1992. She then served as an assistant attorney general for the State of Arizona from 1992 until 2005, then was the Assistant Superintendent of Arizona Department Finance Institutions from 2005 until 2006, and was appointed in 2006 as the superintendent by Governor Janet Napolitano and served until 2009.

In August 2009, Rotellini resigned from her appointed position as superintendent to join the Phoenix law firm of Zwillinger & Greek PC.[9]

In 2010 and 2014, Rotellini ran unsuccessfully for Arizona Attorney General.[9]

In 2018, Rotellini was elected state party chair over LD-16 Chair Scott Prior.[10] [11]

Notes and References

  1. News: New head of state banking agency picked. 7 December 2005. Arizona Daily Star. 1 Section D. A former prosecutor of financial fraud cases was named Tuesday by Gov. Janet Napolitano as the next superintendent of the Arizona State Banking Department. Felecia Rotellini was an assistant state attorney general for 13 years before becoming an assistant superintendent at the Banking Department earlier this year..
  2. Web site: The Voter's Self Defense System.
  3. Web site: Felecia Rotellini : I fight for my Mom. 31 July 2014.
  4. News: A loose brick in Republicans' red wall. . 25 March 2020.
  5. News: McGee urges 'political commitments' at Girls' State. 3 June 1975. Casper Star-Tribune. 11.
  6. Web site: Felecia Rotellini . Ballotpedia.
  7. News: UA law school grads place 1st and 2nd in State Bar examinations. 17 October 1986. The Arizona Daily Star. 10 Section B. Following is a list of successful candidates for the state bar. [...] Felecia A. Rotellini.
  8. Web site: Felecia Rotellini | Phoenix, AZ, Maricopa County Attorney. azbar.legalserviceslink.com.
  9. Web site: Felecia Rotellini.
  10. Web site: Arizona Democrats elect Felecia Rotellini as New Party Chair. 28 January 2018.
  11. Web site: Arizona governor candidate skips Democratic convention in favor of 'real voters'.