Arizona State Mine Inspector: Difference between revisions

|image = File:Inspector Joe Hart.jpg

|incumbent = [[JoePaul HartMarsh (politician)|JoePaul HartMarsh]]

|incumbentsince = JanuaryOctober 200729, 2021

The '''Arizona State Mine Inspector''' is responsible for overseeing the [[inspector]]{{vague|date=Octobersafety 2019}}and regulation of active and inactive [[Mining|mine]]s in the state of [[Arizona]] in the [[United States]]. It is an independent, constitutionally -mandated office, elected by the people of the state to a four-year term. Arizona is notably the only state which fills this position through direct election, instead of appointment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kjzz.org/content/5178/arizona-mine-inspectors-office-tries-climb-out-deep-financial-hole|title=Arizona Mine Inspector's Office Tries To Climb Out Of Deep Financial Hole|author=: :|date=2013-10-04|publisher=KJZZ|accessdate=2019-10-25}}</ref>

Arizona has 600 working mines and an estimated 120,000 abandoned mines.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ducote |first=Richard |url=http://tucson.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/race-for-state-mine-inspector-open-for-first-time-in/article_f430a4a8-8949-5951-ab13-08e5758c64ef.html |title=Race for state mine inspector open for first time in 18 years &#124; Govt-and-politics |publisher=tucson.com |date=2006-08-18 |accessdate=2019-10-25}}</ref> AsOwing to a lack of 2013funding, the statedepartment hademployed onlyjust 4two employeesabandoned-mine whosupervisors actuallyas inspectedof mines2019.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2019/01/02/arizonas-2-abandoned-mine-inspectors-face-daunting-task/2460768002/ | title='We're all by ourselves': Arizona's two abandoned-mine inspectors face daunting task }}</ref>

Some{{who|date=OctoberArizona 2019}}House haveRepresentative questioned[[Randall whetherFriese]] Arizonaintroduced shoulda continuebill toin elect2016 itsto minechange inspector.<ref>{{citethe web|author=Tribuneposition |url=http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/opinion/article_40c4dcc3-5244-5bb2-992f-f225fcccdeed.htmlfrom |title=Stateelected mineto inspectorappointed. shouldThe bebill anfailed appointee,to notmove anout electedof position &#124; Opinion |publisher=eastvalleytribunecommittee.com |date= |accessdate=2019-10-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azleg.gov//FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/52leg/2r/bills/hcr2003o.asp&Session_ID=115 |title=Format Document |publisher=Azleg.gov |date= |accessdate=2019-10-25}}</ref>

In 20192007, former inspector Douglas K. Martin was convicted of a felony conflict of interest from the illegal use of state vehicles and theft.<ref>{{cite web|lastagency=Associated |first=ThePress |url=http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue/2007/03/15/45055-former-state-mine-inspector-pleads-guilty-to-felony-charge/ |title=Former state mine inspector pleads guilty to felony charge - Tucson Citizen Morgue, Part 1 (2006-2009) |publisher=Tucsoncitizen.com |date=2007-03-15 |accessdate=2019-10-25}}</ref>

==Former Mine Inspectorsinspectors==

*Bert C. Romero, Democrat, 1975–19791975–1976

*[[Joe Hart (politician)|Joe Hart]], Republican, 2007–present.2007–2021

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160917190714/http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/const/19/0%2Fconst%2F19%2F0.htm Constitution version 1]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160917193722/http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/const/19/0%2Fconst%2F19%2F0.1.htm Constitution version 2]