If the mandatory recount underway in the Arizona Congressional District 2 race confirms Martha McSally has won a seat in the House, she will replace incumbent Rep. Ron Barber on key committees.
McSally has received her committee assignment and would serve on the House Armed Services Committee, which oversees military and defense policy and budgets, and the House Homeland Security Committee. McSally is a retired Air Force Colonel.
Barber currently serves on those committees.
"The continuity of a strong voice for Southern Arizona on the congressional side is important," said Brian Harpel, president of the DM-50, a group that supports the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. With McSally on the House Armed Services Committee and with Sen. John McCain as chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Tucson will have "two strong fighters" for local military operations, Harpel said.
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Armed Services chairman-select Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) said he is excited about adding McSally to the committee.
"With her many years' experience serving in the military and extensive national security expertise, there's no doubt Martha will be a strong asset to the committee, a strong leader for our country, and an effective advocate for the people she represents," Thornberry said in a press release issued by McSally.
McSally is moving forward as if she will be sworn in on Jan. 3 with the rest of the House; however, a mandatory recount is underway in the very close Congressional race. Final results are expected next week.
Contact reporter Becky Pallack at bpallack@tucson.com or 573-4251. On Twitter: @BeckyPallack
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