J. D. Mesnard

Javan Daniel "J.D." Mesnard (born May 15, 1980 in Tampa, Florida) is an American politician and a Republican member of the Arizona Senate representing District 17 since January 14, 2019. He previously served in the Arizona House of Representatives, including as Speaker of the House, representing District 17 (Chandler, Gilbert, Sun Lakes) from 2013 to 2019. Prior to all legislative boundaries being redrawn and renumbered in 2012, Mesnard represented District 21 (Chandler, Gilbert, Sun Lakes, Mesa, Queen Creek) from January 10, 2011 until January 14, 2013.

Born at the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida (his father is a retired fighter pilot), J.D. has lived in Arizona for over 20 years.He is a small business owner, investor, consultant and professor at Mesa Community College. J.D. spent many years as a music team leader, and as a youth counselor and mentor at his local church.

Mesnard earned his bachelor's degree in music composition from Arizona State University, his master's degree in business from University of Phoenix, and his master's in public administration from Keller Graduate School of Management (now DeVry University). While in graduate school, J.D. caught the attention of a professor who was an Adjunct Scholar with the National Center for Policy Analysis (a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy think tank based in Texas and Washington D.C.), and was subsequently recruited to join with the professor and with Chief Economist and speaker Dr. Barry Asmus to be a spokesman for the NCPA.

Prior to running for office, Mesnard spent eight years working at the Arizona Senate where he served as a policy advisor on issues ranging from education, transportation and retirement, to family services and government administration. During his employment at the Senate, he was Senate Coordinator for the "Legislators Back to School Program."Sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures, the intent of this program is to bring civics to life by connecting legislators with classrooms to give kids of all ages a chance to talk about their ideas with the state legislators who represent them.While Mesnard was coordinator of the program Arizona became the top state in the country for participation in the program.

Arizona Senate

Mesnard is serving his first term in the Arizona Senate. He chairs the Senate Finance Committee.

Arizona House of Representatives

Mesnard previously served as State Representative from Legislative District 17 (Chandler, Gilbert and Sun Lakes), having been elected to the Arizona House of Representatives on November 2, 2010.He was selected to be Speaker of the House for the 2017-2018 term. He previously served as the Speaker Pro Tempore under Speaker Tobin from 2013-2014.

In March 2016 Mesnard was Vice Chairman of the Arizona House Elections Committee Hearing investigating the difficulties voters experienced at polls during the March 22 presidential preference election. During this election, officials for Arizona's largest county, Maricopa County, chose to reduce polling stations from 200 to 60, causing long waiting times (1–5 hours) to vote. During a special House Elections Committee Hearing on March 28, Mesnard was tasked with managing the testimony of numerous angry voters who came to testify about their experiences. The American Conservative Union gave him a lifetime score of 93%.

Other

Mesnard is currently faculty at Mesa Community College, where he teaches courses in government and political science. He is also a small business owner (investing/consulting).

Mesnard helped establish Voices of the World, a non-profit Christian charity whose mission includes providing humanitarian aid to the poor and destitute of the world. Voices of the World currently sponsors missionaries in Maputo, Mozambique in Africa. In November 2014 Mesnard traveled to Vietnam and Myanmar to meet with government leaders as part of the American Council of Young Political Leaders program.

In July 2017, Mesnard flew to Azerbaijan. During his time in the country, he met with President Ilham Aliyev.

• 2014 Mesnard and Jeff Weninger defeated Danielle Lee on November 4. (PDF) Mesnard received 30,018 votes .
• 2012 Redistricted to District 17 with fellow incumbent Representative Forese, and with incumbent Democratic Representatives Ed Ableser running for Arizona Senate and Ben Arredondo leaving the Legislature, Forese and Mesnard were unopposed for the August 28, 2012 Republican Primary; Forese placed first, and Mesnard placed second with 13,439 votes; Forese and Mesnard won the four-way November 6, 2012 General election, with Forese taking the first seat and Mesnard taking the second seat with 42,955 votes against Democratic nominee Karyn Lathan and a write-in candidate.
• 2010 When District 21 incumbent Republican Representative Steve Yarbrough ran for Arizona Senate and Warde Nichols left the Legislature, Mesnard ran in the three-way August 24, 2010 Republican Primary, placing second with 13,086 votes; in the three-way November 2, 2010 General election, Thomas Forese took the first seat, and Mesnard took the second seat with 39,891 votes against Green candidate Linda Macias.