Tim, Keith, Cindy and Keven
EARLY YEARS
Tim Bee is a third-generation native Tucsonan. Raised on a small farm on Tucson’s east side, he and his siblings learned early the importance of family and community involvement. Tim credits 4-H with instilling in him the values of leadership and public service, as well as responsibility and hard work. Tim was one of only six students in the country to receive a national award for their dairy project at the National 4-H Congress. The son and grandson of public educators, Tim graduated as Valedictorian from Palo Verde High School, where he competed in cross-country track and was the editor of the yearbook.
FATHER
Tim and his wife Grace, married thirteen years, have six children, including Anneliese,
a foster child who they are adopting. Esther and Victoria enjoy ballet and chorus, having performed with the Tucson Academy of Ballet, the Tucson Regional Ballet Company and the Tucson Girls Chorus. The boys, Bentley and Sterling, enjoy spending time with their father on home improvement projects. Patricia enjoys playing dress up. The Bees are very active in their church community. Tim’s commitment to his family has always been a driving factor in his decision to commit his life to public service to make Arizona a better place for his family to live and work.
BUSINESSMAN
Tim started the Bee Brothers Printing Company in 1989. Tim managed the business, providing printing services for many Tucson businesses and non-profits, including the Humane Society of Southern Arizona and the University of Arizona. Having built a business from the ground-up, Tim learned the importance of entrepreneurship and small businesses in our economy. Tim ran this successful company until his election to the Arizona State Senate in 2001. After his election, he worked part time for his brother at the Bee Line Transportation until becoming Senate President.
LEADER
Tim has been a member of the Arizona State Senate since 2001 and currently serves as Senate President – the first from southern Arizona since 1974. He represents both rural and urban areas of southern Arizona.
Tim was the Senate Majority Leader from 2003 to 2006. He has served as Vice-Chairman of the Rules, Appropriations, and Judiciary committees, member of the Natural Resources and Rural Affairs and Joint Legislative Budget committees, Joint Committee on Capital Review, DNA Task Force and Joint Select Committee on Corrections. He was also precinct committeeman for Precincts 274 and 389.
HONORS
Senator of the Year, Arizona School Boards Association, 2007
Legislator of the Year, AZ Association of Counties, 2007
Legislator of the year, AZ Council of Indian Affairs, 2007
Statesmen of the Year, League of Conservation Voters, 2007
Legislative Champion, League of Cities & Towns, 2007
National Legislator of the Year, Realty Advocacy Group of the States, 2006
Arizona State Senator of the Year, Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, 2006
Governor’s Tech-10, Arizona Tech Council, 2006
Legislator of the Year, Arizona Association of Community Health Centers, 2006
Elected Public Official of the Year, Southern AZ Home Builders Association, 2006
Distinguished Service Award, Vail School District, 2006
Eagle for Enterprise Award, Arizona Small Business Association, 2005
Arizona Protective Parent Network Award, 2004
Arizona Friend of the Family Award, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Distinguished Legislator Award, Behavioral Health Coalition of Southern Arizona, 2002
Friend of Arizona Industry, Arizona Association of Industries, 2002
Resource Conservation Award, AZ Association of Conservation Districts , 2002
Legislative Award, Southern Arizona DUI Task Force, 2001
ACTIVITIES
Chairman for 2007, Library, Archives, and Public Records Board
Chairman for 2007, Legislative Council
Congressional Conference on Civic Education, State Facilitator
Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Civic Education, Co-Chairman
Council of State Governments Border Legislative Conference, Member
National Council of State Legislators, 2001-present, Member
Council of State Governments-West, Executive Committee
National Conference of State Legislatures Law and Criminal Justice Committee, Vice Chair
DNA Task Force, Member
Rural Physician Study Committee, Member
Automobile Theft Authority, Member
Tim has worked hard to bring issues from his district to the Capitol, such as the Tucson Veterans Home, University Medical Center, University of Arizona and UA-South. It is important to him that legislative members, the media and the public learn more about southern Arizona and its contributions to the state. He has brought legislators into southern Arizona to visit the Arizona Cancer Center and to tour the Arizona-Mexico border. He organized an event at the State Capitol to highlight Fort Huachuca’s economic impact and direct contributions to our national security. Tim also supports investments in our schools, community colleges, and universities as well as programs for our seniors and most vulnerable citizens.
STATESMAN
As President, Tim put Legislators, the people YOU elected, back in charge, rather than staff and lobbyists. As Inside Tucson Business editorialized on June 7, 2007, Tim “has done the near-impossible in politics by allowing for participatory decision-making and building consensus. In fact what has happened this year in the state Legislature – at least on the Senate side – could serve as an example for Washington, D.C.” Tim put policy and people above politics working with Republicans, Democrats, and the Governor to create a responsible budget that is fiscally restrained but meets Arizona’s needs and invests in Arizona’s future.
During this year’s busy session as President, Tim advocated for domestic violence victims and passed legislation to toughen the aggravated domestic violence law and lessen the financial burden for victims of domestic violence. Tim also worked to protect Fort Huachuca and the San Pedro River, while preserving local decision-making.
Tim has received numerous honors and recognition from the business, education and health communities, parent organizations and conservation groups. Some of the honors he has received include the 2007 Legislator of the Year Award from the Arizona Association of Community Health Centers and the 2006 Real Estate Advocacy Group of the States National Legislator of the Year Award in recognition of his leadership in passing the largest tax cuts in Arizona’s history.
Click here for a list of other honors.
Tim is a member of several associations including the National Council of State Legislators, Congressional Conference on Civic Education, Council of State Governments-West Executive Committee, and the Council of State Governments Border Legislative Conference.
Tim is recognized as a thoughtful, intelligent leader, a great communicator, a skilled diplomat and a committed family man. He plans on keeping his family in southern Arizona for generations to come and is committed to making it a great place to work and live for all of us.
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