Senate President Warren Petersen Announces Senior Staff Additions, Promotions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                   

Monday, August 25, 2025 

Senate President Warren Petersen Announces

Senior Staff Additions, Promotions

PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen is announcing several key additions and promotions to the Senate Majority Staff, strengthening the team which supports 17 Republican state senators in advancing conservative legislative priorities and serving the citizens of Arizona.

Fletcher Montzingo has been promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff. Fletcher has over a decade of experience in state government, advising elected officials and senior managers on strategy, operations, and financial matters. For the past six years, Fletcher has staffed the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees, working with Senate Leadership and members of the Senate Majority Caucus on advancing their agenda through the state budget and through legislation relating to taxes, pensions, and insurance. In his new role, he will staff the new Senate Committee on Appropriations & Transportation, in addition to assisting with tax-related issues in the Senate Committee on Finance, and help lead day-to-day staff operations while supporting caucus strategy.

Brooke Huppenthal will join the Majority Staff on September 15 as Deputy General Counsel. In addition to providing legal counsel, she will serve as policy advisor for the Senate Committee on Judiciary & Elections and the Senate Committee on Military Affairs & Border Security, as well as assist with the Senate Rules Committee. Brooke previously served as an Assistant Attorney General in Tennessee and as a law clerk to Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick.

Simone Westbrook Hall has just joined the team as Senior Policy Advisor for the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water and the Senate Committee on Public Safety. Simone brings extensive experience on complex natural resource and land use policy from both the public and private sectors, most recently serving as the State's Deputy Land Commissioner.

Abigail McLain will begin on September 8 as Policy Advisor for the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services. Abby is a graduate of Grand Canyon University and most recently served on the government relations team at Alliance Defending Freedom, where she focused on First Amendment policy and advocacy.

"These new additions and promotions ensure that the Arizona Senate Majority Caucus has one of the most experienced and capable legislative staff teams in the country," said President Petersen. "Fletcher, Simone, Brooke, and Abby bring not only expertise but also a strong commitment to serving our citizens with professionalism and integrity. They will play an important role in helping us deliver results for Arizona families."

Senate Majority Staff Assignments

• Josh Kredit: Chief of Staff

• Fletcher Montzingo: Deputy Chief of Staff, Policy Advisory for Senate Committee on Appropriations & Transportation, Senate Committee on Finance

• Rusty Crandall: General Counsel, Policy Advisor for Senate Committee on Director Nominations, Senate Committee on Ethics, Senate Committee on Judiciary & Elections, Senate Rules Committee

• Brooke Huppenthal: Deputy General Counsel, Policy Advisor for Senate Committee on Judiciary & Elections, Senate Committee on Military Affairs & Border Security

• Kim Quintero: Director of Communications

• Alayna Kowaleski: Deputy Director of Communications, Policy Advisor for Senate Committee on Federalism, Joint Legislative Audit Committee

• Blaze Baggs: Senior Policy Advisor for Senate Committee on Health & Human Services, Senate Committee on Government

• Simone Westbrook Hall:  Senior Policy Advisor for Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water, Senate Committee on Public Safety

• Emma Blair: Policy Advisory for Senate Committee on Education, Senate Committee on Appropriations & Transportation, Senate Committee on Regulatory Affairs & Government Efficiency

• Abigail McLain: Policy Advisor for Senate Committee on Health & Human Services, Senate Committee on Finance, Senate Committee on Government

• Gina Jenkins: Senior Executive Assistant

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For more information, contact:

Kim Quintero

Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus

kquintero@azleg.gov