Scott Smith Email & Phone Number

I am the Senior Vice President for Government Affairs at HighGround Public Affairs Consultants in Phoenix, Arizona. I help clients prepare for government developments, capitalize on opportunities, and execute approaches that align government objectives and business goals. Before joining HighGround I served as the Managing Director of Government Relations for the Government Relations, Regulatory Affairs and Contracting Group at Ballard Spahr LLP in Phoenix, Arizona. Previously I served as Chief of Staff to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. Prior to that appointment, I served as her Deputy Chief of Staff. I am particularly well versed in issues involving health care, education, and public safety and helped advance Gov. Brewer’s agenda in each of these critical areas of state government. I was a key contributor to many of Gov. Brewer’s signature achievements. During Arizona’s Great Recession, I led Gov. Brewer’s legislative affairs efforts and was instrumental in helping her balance the state’s multibillion-dollar budget shortfall. Moreover, I led the Governor’s successful legislative campaign to refer a penny sales tax to the ballot to provide additional funding to protect education, public safety, and Arizona’s vulnerable populations from even more severe budget reductions.I was a leading figure behind the Governor Brewer's successful effort to reform and update Arizona’s antiquated personnel system for state employees. I was a key participant in Gov. Brewer’s successful Medicaid restoration effort. I was selected by Governor to lead the effort to comprehensively overhaul Arizona’s child safety system, which resulted in the creation of Arizona’s Department of Child Safety. I have nearly 25 years of experience in Arizona state government and have served as a staff member in the Arizona House of Representatives and held significant positions within Arizona’s Department of Administration and Department of Corrections, and served as the Director of State Relations for Arizona State University.

Listed skills include Government, Public Policy, Public Speaking, Legislative Relations, and 11 others.

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  Arizona State University

  Political Science