Wally Straughn

Wally Straughn
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 15th district
In office
January 13, 2003 – January 10, 2005
Serving with Ken Clark
Preceded byMike Gleason
Robert Blendu
Succeeded byKyrsten Sinema
David Lujan
Personal details
Born1957
Portsmouth, Virginia
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseBenjamin Rolfe-Kizer (1990–2017)[1]
Residence(s)Phoenix, Arizona

Wally Straughn (born 1957) is an American politician, who served as a Democratic member of the Arizona House of Representatives from 2003 to 2005.

A United States Navy veteran who served in the Vietnam War,[2] he was first elected in the 2002 election as a member of the Democratic Party. He served on the legislature's Commerce and Military Affairs, Public Institutions and Counties, and Judiciary committees during his term in office. Openly gay, he was an outspoken supporter of efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in Arizona.[3]

Straughn was defeated in the 2004 primaries by Kyrsten Sinema and David Lujan,[4] and did not return to elected politics thereafter.

  1. ^ "Obituary: Benjamin Rolfe-Kizer". The Arizona Republic, February 24, 2017.
  2. ^ "Gay witch-hunts lead to Don't Ask, Don't Tell". Echo Magazine, November 1, 2007.
  3. ^ "Gay marriage appeal in Arizona supreme court". The Advocate, May 26, 2004.
  4. ^ "No return: Wally Straughn fails in bid to remain in legislature". Echo Magazine, September 23, 2004.