Steve Montenegro
Encyclopedia
Steve Montenegro is an American politician from Litchfield Park, Arizona
who has served as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives
since January 2003. He is a Hispanic
Republican politician and current Speaker Pro Tempore
. He was first elected in 2008.
when he was four. His family immigrated to the United States legally. He is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the Arizona State University
with a B.S. in Political Science
. He maintained a 3.65 GPA there. He also holds an Associate of Arts in Theology
from Logos Christian University. Steve also serves as an Assistant Pastor/Youth Pastor at the Surprise Apostolic Assembly. He spent five years as President of Arizona Messengers of Peace. He also worked as a Teacher at the Arizona Charter Academy
and Superior School.
. In response to accusations of racial profiling
of Hispanics, he replied by saying that "This bill has nothing to do with race or profiling. It has to do with the law. We are seeing a lot of crime here in Arizona because of the open borders that we have."
Litchfield Park, Arizona
Litchfield Park is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. In 2010 it had a population of 5,476.-History:The town of Litchfield Park is named for its founder, Paul Weeks Litchfield...
who has served as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives
Arizona House of Representatives
The Arizona House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arizona Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arizona. Its members are elected to two-year terms with a term limit of four consecutive terms...
since January 2003. He is a Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
Republican politician and current Speaker Pro Tempore
Pro tempore
Pro tempore , abbreviated pro tem or p.t., is a Latin phrase which best translates to "for the time being" in English. This phrase is often used to describe a person who acts as a locum tenens in the absence of a superior, such as the President pro tempore of the United States Senate.Legislative...
. He was first elected in 2008.
Early life
Montenegro arrived in the U.S. from El SalvadorEl Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
when he was four. His family immigrated to the United States legally. He is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
with a B.S. in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He maintained a 3.65 GPA there. He also holds an Associate of Arts in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
from Logos Christian University. Steve also serves as an Assistant Pastor/Youth Pastor at the Surprise Apostolic Assembly. He spent five years as President of Arizona Messengers of Peace. He also worked as a Teacher at the Arizona Charter Academy
Arizona Charter Academy
Arizona Charter Academy is a coeducational, public charter school located in Surprise, Arizona, USA. The school population is largely from the cities of El Mirage, Surprise, Peoria, Youngtown and Glendale. ACA provides instructions for students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade...
and Superior School.
SB 1070
He was the only Hispanic in the Arizona legislature to vote for the highly controversial Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods ActSupport Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act
The Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act is a legislative Act in the U.S. state of Arizona that at the time of passage was the broadest and strictest anti-illegal immigration measure in recent U.S. history...
. In response to accusations of racial profiling
Racial profiling
Racial profiling refers to the use of an individual’s race or ethnicity by law enforcement personnel as a key factor in deciding whether to engage in enforcement...
of Hispanics, he replied by saying that "This bill has nothing to do with race or profiling. It has to do with the law. We are seeing a lot of crime here in Arizona because of the open borders that we have."