Full Biography for Tony West

Candidate for
Corporation Commissioner

Tony West was re-elected in 1994 to the office of Arizona State Treasurer, and his second four-year term began January 3, 1995.

West is a native Arizonan, born and raised in Phoenix. Both his father, William A. West,Sr., and his grandfather, T. J. West, were pioneers in the cotton industry in Arizona and California. He has been married to Margaret O'Malley West since June, 1962, and they have three sons: William, John and Stephen, and one grandson, Anthony. He and his wife are owners of M W Publishing, publishers of spiritual self-help books.

He is a founder and director of the Arizona Coalition for Tomorrow, director and president of the Arizona Economic Forum, director and past president of Arizona Senior Olympics, director and treasurer of St.Joseph's Foundation (Mercy Healthcare Arizona), trustee of Western States Chiropractic College, trustee and past president of the Arizona Foundation for the Handicapped, past president and former director of the Arizona Club, trustee of Junior Achievement Foundation, member of Junior Achievement, Justice Fellowship Task Force, Governor's Prayer Breakfast Committee, Kenilworth School Foundation, Arizona Academy and the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System--Fund Manager.

West served in the Arizona National Guard, where he attained the rank of Captain and commanded an infantry company.

A graduate of Arizona State University, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in business with a major in finance.

His entrepreneurial experience includes successfully owning and operating four mid-size companies. He has more than 38 years of comprehensive experience in highly visible positions in administration, management, finance and client relations.

He was elected to five terms in the Arizona House of Representatives and three terms in the Arizona Senate. During his 16 years in the Legislature, he served on numerous committees. He chaired the Banking and Insurance Committee in the House, the Insurance, Retirement and Aging Committee in the Senate, was vice-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, served 10 years on the Appropriations Committees, chaired the Committee on Ways and Means in the House, and was a member of the Joint Oversight Committee on Organized Crime.

West was well known while in the Legislature for his tough anti-crime bills and fiscal conservatism, but his legislative career also reflects his social conscience. He sponsored and achieved passage of a wide variety of bills, including programs for the hearing-impaired, permissive legislation establishing county sports authorities, funding for crime victim compensation, and requiring increased and mandatory sentences for criminals convicted of using minors in the sale of drugs.

He is past president of the Western State Treasurers Association and past vice president of the National Association of State Treasurers, having served two consecutive terms in these positions. In 1992, he was selected as a Henry Toll Fellow by the Council of State Governments.

He is an ordained deacon serving the Diocese of Phoenix and is a member of St. Francis Xavier parish.