Wally Straughn Explained

Wally Straughn
State House:Arizona
District:15th
Term Start:January 13, 2003
Term End:January 10, 2005
Predecessor:Mike Gleason
Robert Blendu
Successor:Kyrsten Sinema
David Lujan
Alongside:Ken Clark
Birth Date:1957
Birth Place:Portsmouth, Virginia
Nationality:American
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Benjamin Rolfe-Kizer (1990–2017)[1]
Residence:Phoenix, Arizona

Wally Straughn (born 1957) is an American politician, who served as a Democratic member of the Arizona House of Representatives from 2003 to 2005.

A United States Navy veteran who served in the Vietnam War,[2] he was first elected in the 2002 election as a member of the Democratic Party. He served on the legislature's Commerce and Military Affairs, Public Institutions and Counties, and Judiciary committees during his term in office. Openly gay, he was an outspoken supporter of efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in Arizona.[3]

Straughn was defeated in the 2004 primaries by Kyrsten Sinema and David Lujan,[4] and did not return to elected politics thereafter.

Notes and References

  1. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/azcentral/obituary.aspx?n=benjamin-rolfe-kizer&pid=184108933 "Obituary: Benjamin Rolfe-Kizer"
  2. "Gay witch-hunts lead to Don't Ask, Don't Tell". Echo Magazine, November 1, 2007.
  3. https://www.advocate.com/news/2004/05/26/gay-marriage-appeal-arizona-supreme-court-12555 "Gay marriage appeal in Arizona supreme court"
  4. "No return: Wally Straughn fails in bid to remain in legislature". Echo Magazine, September 23, 2004.