Felecia Rotellini is an American attorney and politician who served as chair of the Arizona Democratic Party from 2018 to 2021. Rotellini spent 13 years as an assistant state attorney general before serving as the superintendent of the Arizona State Banking Department under Governor Janet Napolitano.[1] She twice ran for attorney general in 2010 and 2014.

Felecia Rotellini
Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party
In office
January 27, 2018 – January 23, 2021
Preceded byAlexis Tameron Kinsey
Succeeded byRaquel Terán
Personal details
BornSheridan, Wyoming, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationRocky Mountain College (BA)
University of Notre Dame (JD)

Early life and education

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Felecia Rotellini was born and raised in Sheridan, Wyoming[2] to Clarice (née Koebbe) and Anselmo "Sam" Rotellini.[3]

Rotellini developed an interest in politics due, in part, to her paternal grandfather who was a coal mining union organizer in the now defunct-town of Cambria, Wyoming.[4] While attending Rocky Mountain College, Rotellini participated in a Girls Staters event where Senator Gale W. McGee urged the crowd to "each make a political commitment." As part of the activities of the event, Rotellini was elected as one of the "councilmen" for the mythical town of Cottonwood City.[5]

Rotellini received her bachelor's degrees in history and political science (magna cum laude) from Rocky Mountain College in 1981, and a Juris Doctor from Notre Dame Law School in 1986.[6]

Career

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She passed the State Bar of Arizona bar examination in 1986[7] and was admitted to the State Bar of Arizona on October 25, 1986.[8]

Rotellini began her career working as an attorney in private practice from 1986 until 1992. She then served as an assistant attorney general for the State of Arizona from 1992 until 2005, then was the Assistant Superintendent of Arizona Department Finance Institutions from 2005 until 2006, and was appointed in 2006 as the superintendent by Governor Janet Napolitano and served until 2009.[citation needed]

In August 2009, Rotellini resigned from her appointed position as superintendent to join the Phoenix law firm of Zwillinger & Greek PC.[9]

In 2010 and 2014, Rotellini ran unsuccessfully for Arizona Attorney General.[9]

In 2018, Rotellini was elected state party chair over LD-16 Chair Scott Prior.[10][11]

Election results

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Arizona Attorney General 2010[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Horne 870,483 51.9
Democratic Felecia Rotellini 807,185 48.1
Total votes 1,677,668 100
Arizona Attorney General 2014[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Brnovich 782,361 52.88
Democratic Felecia Rotellini 696,054 47.04
Write-ins Other 1,212 0.08
Total votes 1,479,627 100

References

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  1. ^ "New head of state banking agency picked". Arizona Daily Star. 7 December 2005. p. 1 Section D. A former prosecutor of financial fraud cases was named Tuesday by Gov. Janet Napolitano as the next superintendent of the Arizona State Banking Department. Felecia Rotellini was an assistant state attorney general for 13 years before becoming an assistant superintendent at the Banking Department earlier this year.
  2. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System".
  3. ^ "Felecia Rotellini : I fight for my Mom". 31 July 2014.
  4. ^ "A loose brick in Republicans' red wall". The Washington Post. 25 March 2020.
  5. ^ "McGee urges 'political commitments' at Girls' State". Casper Star-Tribune. 3 June 1975. p. 11.
  6. ^ "Felecia Rotellini". Ballotpedia. [unreliable source?]
  7. ^ "UA law school grads place 1st and 2nd in State Bar examinations". The Arizona Daily Star. 17 October 1986. p. 10 Section B. Following is a list of successful candidates for the state bar. [...] Felecia A. Rotellini
  8. ^ "Felecia Rotellini | Phoenix, AZ, Maricopa County Attorney". azbar.legalserviceslink.com.
  9. ^ a b "Felecia Rotellini".
  10. ^ "Arizona Democrats elect Felecia Rotellini as New Party Chair". 28 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Arizona governor candidate skips Democratic convention in favor of 'real voters'".
  12. ^ "STATE OF ARIZONA OFFICIAL CANVASS. Compiled and Issued by the Arizona Secretary of State" (PDF). apps.azsos.gov.
  13. ^ "Unofficial Results General Election". Arizona Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 10, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
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Party political offices
Preceded by
Bill Roe
Acting
Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party
2018–2021
Succeeded by