Mother of Arizona House speaker runs for son’s seat

PHOENIX — The mother of Arizona House Speaker J.D. Mesnard is running for his seat in the legislative chamber as he pursues an open state Senate seat.

Term limits bar Mesnard from running again for re-election to the House, so Chandler City Councilwoman Nora Ellen plans to take the seat, the Arizona Capitol Times reported on Tuesday.

Ellen said people have encouraged her to run for the Legislature and the timing just became right. Ellen is a real estate broker and is serving her second term on the city council in Chandler. The city limits elected officials to two terms.

If Ellen and Mesnard are both elected, the mother and son would serve in the Legislature at the same time.

Mesnard is pursuing the seat that will be vacated by Senate President Steve Yarbrough who will reach term limits next year.