Tom Jenney is Arizona director for Americans for Prosperity, formerly the Arizona Federation of Taxpayers (www.aztaxpayers.org). As director of AFT in 2006, Jenney helped to reduce state income and property taxes, and helped lead the fight to pass Prop 207, the Private Property Rights Protection Act. Since joining Americans for Prosperity in 2007, Jenney has won multiple legislative and local government victories on tax policy, privatization, budget reform and worker freedom. Most recently, in November 2010, Jenney and AFP-Arizona were helpful in passing Prop 106, the Arizona Health Care Freedom Act, and Prop 113, the Save Our Secret Ballot Act.

Since 2004, Jenney has overseen the publication of the AFT-AFP “Friend of the Taxpayer” Legislative Scorecard, which is often cited by candidates and their opponents in primary and general election fights. Since 2007, Jenney has overseen the publication of AFP Arizona’s Local Government Scorecard, which grades city council members and county supervisors on taxes and spending. In 2009, Jenney was honored to serve as the emcee at the April 15 Taxpayer Tea Party at the Arizona state capitol, which attracted about 10,000 taxpayer activists. On April 15 of this year, the AFP Arizona tea party rallied 7,000 people at Diablo Stadium in Tempe.

Jenney is a Tucson native and a 1988 graduate of University High School. He earned an associate’s degree from the New Mexico Military Institute and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies from Georgetown University. Jenney has worked for the Institute for Justice and the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C., and for the International Center for Pension Reform in Santiago, Chile. From 2002 to 2004, he was communications director of the Goldwater Institute. Jenney has taught government, economics and Spanish at St. Paul’s Preparatory Academy in Phoenix, and is a member of the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Phoenix. He also serves on the Social Justice and Peacemaking Committee of the Presbytery of Grand Canyon. He can be reached via email at tjenney@afphq.org, and by phone at (602) 478-0146. AFP Arizona’s website is www.aztaxpayers.org.