Karan English Speaks Out: A Personal Reflection

Karan English, who made her mark in 1992 as one of Arizona’s first female congresswomen, reflects on her political journey with a mix of pride and caution. After serving one term, she lost her seat in 1994 to Republican J.D. Hayworth. Prior to her congressional role, English, a Democrat from northern Arizona, held three terms in the state legislature. Her tenure was marred by controversies, including a false bribery accusation and her decision to impeach Governor Evan Mecham.

During a recent interview for the Arizona Memory Project, English shared her experiences with the Arizona political environment, including involvement in a corruption scandal known as AZScam. Initially perceiving the initiative as a partisan attack, she soon discovered that both parties had been ensnared. “I had to hire an attorney to prove that I didn’t take this bribe,” she recounted, turning her attention to an informant who had attended a fundraiser she had missed due to a medical issue.

The alleged bribe stemmed from a contribution made at a fundraiser while English was recovering from a hysterectomy. “I was in the hospital, missed my own fundraiser,” she explained. “He said that he had bribed me to vote for a casino, but I wasn’t there.” This incident left her not only dealing with false accusations but also exposed her personal health struggles to public scrutiny.

Reflecting on the political climate during her time, English stated, “Those were the times when politics got really nasty.” Many of her colleagues faced legal troubles, including imprisonment for taking illegal funds. “I don’t know for sure what their motivations were, but it was a broad targeting,” she noted.

English highlighted her experience on the Education Committee, recalling a controversial meeting with Governor Mecham. He pushed a vision that sought to redirect funds from public to private education, motivated by a desire to shift perceived liberal influences. “I came out of that meeting thinking the governor wants to harm the future of our state’s children,” she said. The contentious nature of their discussion ultimately led to Mecham’s impeachment, a process that “was grueling” for all involved.

“I left in tears… it was exhausting,” she recalled. English noted that Republicans, embarrassed by Mecham’s actions, carried the burden of the impeachment process, while Democrats capitalized on the fallout. “The impeachment vote was a rare occurrence; very few governors have faced such a fate,” she remarked.

In recounting a particularly memorable incident involving a lobbyist, English lamented the arrogance displayed by some in their profession. She described attending a dinner where a lobbyist unexpectedly picked up the tab for her and fellow legislators. Outraged by the unethical implications, she confronted the lobbyist directly. “I said, ‘You didn’t ask me if you could buy my dinner,’” she recalled, emphasizing the ethical concerns surrounding such actions.

Her public denouncement of the lobbyist’s behavior led to some bridges being burned, but she remained resolute. “I became known as a troublemaker,” she admitted, underscoring her commitment to integrity in a challenging political climate.