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PHOENIX — Newly chosen state Senate President Tim Bee fired four top staffers Tuesday, promising "a culture change" in how laws are made at the Capitol.

Gone are Greg Jernigan, who had been chief of staff; operations manager Rob Dalager; senior policy adviser Mark Swenson; and Nick Simonetta, who had been in charge of publicity.

Bee said the changes are consistent with the message sent by voters nationwide, in which they wanted lawmakers who make responsible and responsive decisions. He said bringing in new staff members will help that occur at the state level.

The problem, said Bee, is partly a function of term limits: Legislators can serve no more than eight consecutive years in the House or Senate.

By contrast, staffers got to stay for years. In fact, Jernigan started working for the Senate when Bill Jacquin was president in the early 1970s, though his tenure includes an interruption of several years.

The result, said Bee, is that staffers sometimes were the ones setting policy rather than implementing what the Republican leadership and individual legislators proposed.

Bee said this is an ideal time for a change because virtually all of the Republican senators who will be serving during the next two years are veterans. "It's a good opportunity for the members to maximize on their experience," he said.

He said the change will not leave the Senate without historical perspective and experience. Bee said four other senior staffers are retaining their jobs.