February 21, 2008 — Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02), gave the following statement today on the announcement that former Arizona Governor Evan Mecham, 83, had passed away yesterday after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease.

“I want to offer my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Governor Evan Mecham.  I had the great privilege in life of serving in Governor Mecham’s administration as Director of the Governor’s Office for Children.  Governor Mecham always treated me with great respect and kindness, and it is my conviction that his was a life dedicated to serving God, his family, his country, and his fellow human beings.  The Mecham family should take great pride in the service Governor Mecham provided to Arizona and the nation.”

While serving in Governor Mecham’s administration, Congressman Franks oversaw all of Arizona’s state programs for children as the Cabinet-level Director of the Arizona Governor’s Office for Children (similar to the Department for Children in other states.) He was also Chairman of the Arizona State Children's Cabinet as well as Chairman of the Inter-Agency Study Committee on Children and AIDS.