Brewer Continues to fill Staff

Secretary of State Jan Brewer's transition team named two more top level positions in her office today:

Brewer Names Richard Bark As Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy;
Selects Joseph Kanefield as General Counsel

PHOENIX – Secretary of State Jan Brewer today announced other additions to her senior staff, naming Richard Bark as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy. Mr. Bark will serve as chief policy advisor for the Brewer Administration, overseeing the development and implementation of the incoming Governor’s policy initiatives. Additionally, Brewer selected Joseph Kanefield as her General Counsel. Mr. Kanefield will provide direct legal advice to the governor, provide legal analysis of all legislation to be signed by the governor as well as draft executive orders.

“My top priority is to assemble the best possible team to tackle the dire situation that the state is facing,” stated Brewer. “I am thrilled and honored to add Mr. Bark and Mr. Kanefield to my senior staff.”

According to Brewer, Bark and Kanefield—both accomplished attorneys-- will work together in many areas. “Both of these gentlemen will play key roles in my judicial appointments and in areas of constitutional law,” Brewer said. “The State of Arizona will be well served by their legal acumen.”

Richard A. Bark has served in both the public and private sectors during his 20-year legal and public policy career. Most recently, he has practiced law as a partner in the Phoenix law firm of Gallagher & Kennedy. Prior to his time with Gallagher & Kennedy, Bark served as Director of Policy for the Majority in the Arizona House of Representatives and as Counsel to the Majority in the Arizona Senate.

“Mr. Bark is a very well known and well respected long-time policy expert who will be a valuable asset to the State of Arizona,” stated Brewer.

Bark received a B.S. degree from Arizona State University and a law degree from Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School. During his schooling, Bark interned at the Arizona State Senate and worked at the Arizona Administrative Office of the Courts for two years. He has been a member of the State Bar of Arizona since 1991.

Joe Kanefield has served for five years as Secretary of State Brewer’s State Election Director. Kanefield began his service to the state in 1989 at the Department of Revenue. He then joined the Attorney General’s Office under Grant Woods in 1995. During his ten-year tenure at the AG’s Office, Mr. Kanefield served as the attorney for Secretary of State Betsey Bayless in election matters. He has argued cases before the Arizona Supreme Court, Arizona Court of Appeals and the Federal Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He also appeared as counsel of record before the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the State of Arizona in the private schools tuition tax credit case, Hibbs v. Winn.

“Mr. Kanefield has an outstanding legal mind, and his years of service working directly with State officials and the Legislature will be essential as we move forward in tackling the major challenges we face,” stated Brewer.

Kanefield currently serves as the Second Vice President of the State Bar of Arizona Board of Governors. He teaches election law at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College Of Law and has written several articles on Arizona election law for the Arizona Attorney magazine. He received a B.S. degree in economics from Arizona State University and a law degree from the University of Arizona. He has been a member of the State Bar of Arizona since 1994.