Scott Bundgaard

Hon. Scott Bundgaard
Member of the Arizona Senate from the 4th district
In office January 10, 2011 – January 6, 2012
Succeeded by	Judy Burges
Member of the Arizona Senate from the 19th district
In office January 13, 1997 – January 13, 2003
Preceded by	Jan Brewer
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 19th district
In office January 9, 1995 – January 13, 1997
Preceded by	Nancy Wessel John Keegan
Succeeded by	Roberta Voss
Personal details
Born	(1968-01-11) January 11, 1968 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Stephanie
Alma mater	Grand Canyon University, Thunderbird School of Global Management
Website	http://www.scottbundgaard.com

Scott Bundgaard is a Republican politician who served in the Arizona House of Representatives and in the Arizona State Senate. Bundgaard served as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and was later elected as Majority Leader of the Arizona State Senate.

Early life and education

Scott Bundgaard was born in Oklahoma City, OK, while his parents were moving to Phoenix, AZ from Omaha, NB. Scott lived in Oklahoma for seven days, long enough to become a fan of the Oklahoma Sooners. Scott's dad immigrated to the United States in 1964 from Copenhagen, Denmark, because it was his dream to live in America. Scott's mom had been serving as a Catholic nun for nine years, until she departed and soon thereafter met Scott's dad. Scott has two siblings, Kerry and Bryan. Growing up, they were raised in the Catholic Church and later began attending evangelical Christian churches. Scott graduated with a BS degree from Grand Canyon University in 1990. Scott received his MBA in 2005 from Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Personal life

While volunteering at his church, Scott was introduced to Stephanie, who was also a long-time volunteer in the children's ministry at their church. Scott and Stephanie married in July 2013 and live in Peoria, AZ.

Political career

Scott was overwhelmingly elected as the Majority Leader of the Arizona State Senate in a 17-4 vote. Two months after becoming Majority Leader, Bundgaard was assaulted by a woman while driving home from a charity event. Ron Gould, a colleague in the State Senate, demanded that Bundgaard step down as Majority Leader, but the Republican caucus rejected Gould. One week later, Bundgaard was removed as Majority Leader on March 15, 2011 by a vote of 13-11 of the Senate Republican caucus. Bundgaard had previously served in the Arizona State Senate for six years (1997–2003) and Arizona House of Representatives for two years (1995-1997).

While serving in the Senate, Bundgaard worked on matters of fiscal policy by cutting taxes and cutting spending, working to eliminate racial preference programs, end dependence on foreign fuels by promoting renewable energy, and working to protect the public from unsafe products and financial scams. He also tried to end restrictions by public schools against student-led Bible clubs, and put pressure on home owner's associations who worked to prevent members from flying the American flag

In 2000, Bundgaard was a prime sponsor of Senate Bill 1220 which created the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority to build taxpayer-funded stadiums for National Football League and major league baseball teams and youth sports. Arizona voters approved the project. The sports facilities have had a significant positive financial impact in Arizona and for the West Valley.

He ran unsuccessfully in 2002 for the Republican nomination for the United States House of Representatives in Arizona's second congressional district, receiving only 16.1% of the vote among a field of seven candidates.

Volunteer efforts

• Rancho El Refugio Scott helped raise money for and helped build a school and homes in Ensenada, Ojos Negros, Puerto Peñasco, MX, 2007-2012
• Tu Nidito Children & Family Services Ride for a Child event fundraiser, “Highest Money-Raiser” Conquistador Trophy, 2011 and 2012
• National Kidney Foundation of Arizona Scott participated in the Dancing with the Stars event fundraiser, 2011
• StreetLightPHX Advisory board member, 2010-2011
• The Commission on Presidential Scholars Scott was a Member of the Commission, Appointed by President of the United States, 2001-2010
• The Presidential Scholars Foundation Scott was a Member of the Board for the Foundation, Appointed by President of the United States, 2004-2010
• Arizona Opera League Scott served as a fundraising chair for The Opera Ball, 2003
• Arizona Project Challenge (Boot camp for at-risk youth run by National Guard) Scott served as a Mentor to an at-risk young person, 2003-2005
• The Phoenix Business Journal Scott was awarded the First Annual “40 Under 40” Award, 2001
• International Reading Association Scott received the “Celebrate Literacy Award” for promotion of literacy and education for young people, 2001
• MatchPoint/MentorKidsUSA Scott served as a Board member and Mentor for this faith-based mentoring org for at-risk kids, 1998-2002
• Arizona Technology Council Scott received the Arizona Tech 10 Award for his work to support the technology community in Arizona, 2000
• Arizona Leukemia/Lymphoma Society Scott was named Man of the Year for his work to raise money for and support ALLS, 2000
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Scott received the Arizona’s Finest Fundraiser Award for his work to support those with Cystic Fibrosis, 1999
• American Legion Scott was given the Distinguished Legislator Award for his work to support veterans, 1999
• Kids Basketball Association Scott was named Coach of the Year for his work with young athletes, 1994
• Glendale Parks & Recreation: youth basketball coach, youth soccer coach, referee, 1991-1994
• Rotaract (Collegiate level of Rotary Club International) Founding Director - Grand Canyon University, 1989

Controversies

Endangerment

On the evening of February 25, 2011 police responded to a call regarding a man, later identified as Bundgaard, pulling a woman out of a car in Phoenix Arizona. Only Bundgaard showed marks of a physical altercation, which included a black eye, scrapes on his arms and face, and a bloody fat lip, according to the photo associated with this reference. Bundgaard always maintained that Both were taken into custody at the roadside, but only his girlfriend was arrested and charged with domestic violence assault, because a majority of the Phoenix Police officers did not believe they had probable cause to arrest Bundgaard. Phoenix Police officers named Bundgaard the victim of domestic violence and issued to him a Victim Rights pamphlet that informed Bundgaard of his rights as the crime victim. Over three months, over 20 police reports were recreated, amended and some reports 'lost', while witnesses were manufactured and Bundgaard's due process rights were denied. On June 10, 2011 he was served with a summons and complaint for assault (ARS 13-1203A), endangerment (ARS 13-1201A), and domestic violence (ARS 13-3601A).

At Bundgaard's Initial Appearance in Phoenix City Court, the prosecution asked his attorney if they would agree to meet and discuss a possible plea bargain, because prosecutors did not have enough evidence to prosecute Bundgaard based on the complaint issued. On August 16, 2011, after negotiations between both the Senator's attorneys and prosecutors, he pleaded no contest to endangerment (ARS 13-1201A) for pulling over onto the wrong side of the highway and agreed to participate in diversion classes for up to six months. He was ordered to pay Ballard $1,336.99 in criminal restitution. A "no contest" plea is treated by the courts like a guilty plea.

Bundgaard later filed a lawsuit against Ballard and the City of Phoenix. The lawsuit by Bundgaard was dropped as a settlement agreement was reached. Bundgaard said, “After two years of litigation, I’ve achieved vindication. I never wavered from my claims of innocence against the false allegations from Aubry Ballard and corrupt city officials. As a result, I recently reached a confidential settlement agreement with Ms. Ballard."

Other Controversies

He was the prime sponsor of SB 1412 in 2000, which was a bill that died in committee. . Bundgaard was later tasked by Governor Jane Hull to lead a committee to dissolve a controversial alternative fuels program that cost the Arizona taxpayers over $100 million. As a legislator who chaired that committee, he personally went through the alt fuels program in an attempt to buy five vehicles to demonstrate the lunacy and ineffectiveness of the program.

In 1999, Bundgaard attempted to work with the Department of Environmental Quality to remove an environmental polluter who lived and worked in his legislative district. Bundgaard worked with all parties - neighbors, DEQ, business owners, attorneys - in an attempt to find a solution to remove the polluter without further expense by taxpayers to resolve this. Bundgaard said, "You're right, I intervened. But I'm here to come up with solutions to these problems. And the solution was to find a way to remove a guy who's accused of polluting from this neighborhood that has encroached on his operation."

He was fined $3,500 by the Federal Elections Commission for failure to timely file a campaign finance report during the 2002 congressional campaign.

Scott Bundgaard has a long history of civil litigation that he has initiated. In 1986, he was convicted of one count of third degree burglary. After two years, his class four felony conviction was "expunged."

In 2003, the brokerage company he worked for was sued by a client for a loss of funds. The client was upset that he lost money that he had placed into a technology mutual fund. A settlement agreement was reached. Bundgaard sold his book of business several years later and voluntarily left the securities industry.

In 2006, he was married in a covenant marriage but his wife had to call the police during the honeymoon, because she wanted to return home to her parents. One year later, Bundgaard agreed to annul the covenant marriage citing threats and domestic violence as reasons. These claims were easily refuted once Ms. Anne Harwell was cross-examined in a court deposition and her false allegations exposed. Ms. Harwell-McElhaney was used as a source by the political media to establish that Scott had an alleged "history" of domestic violence. Her claim was proven as false along with her published hatred for homosexuals and her belief that President George W. Bush and Karl Rove were homosexuals.

In December 2012 Bundgaard filed a $10,000,000 lawsuit against the City of Phoenix alleging that three police officers, the mayor of Phoenix, the chief of police, five civilian witnesses and the victim of his domestic violence attack conspired to defame his character. The case was transferred to federal district court. In March 2014 he requested the lawsuit be dismissed without a judgement, because the parties had agreed to a confidential settlement agreement.