Tim Bee

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State Senate President Tim Bee may have voted to put a gay-marriage ban on the November ballot, but as he now focuses on his bid for Congress, the Republican isn't saying how he'll mark his own ballot.

In one of his first interviews since the legislative session ended last month, Bee characterized the marriage measure — which he originally sponsored — as an "ugly battle."

"It created a lot of controversy for us and a lot of contention in the chamber," he said.

But asked whether he'd support the measure — a hallmark issue for social conservatives — now that he's voted to put it on the ballot, Bee wouldn't say, calling it his "private vote."

"I think ultimately, as I tell my members, vote your conscience," he said.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, whom Bee is challenging, said she's against any state or federal constitutional amendment defining marriage and will oppose the measure.

Bee has not taken a position on a federal amendment, but the question may be largely academic, because even presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain is opposed to such an effort.

If it's approved, the Arizona measure would define marriage as between a man and woman in the state constitution. It's already defined as such in state statute, but advocates of the amendment fear courts here may eventually overturn that law — which is what happened in California.

Voters narrowly turned down a broader ban on gay marriage and civil unions — even those for opposite-sex couples — in 2006.

In a wide-ranging interview, Bee also criticized the influence of advocacy groups that "exist to raise money" and pressure legislators to vote a certain way.

"Oftentimes, issues are brought to the Legislature, at least in my opinion, that are there strictly to generate support within their organizations," he said.

That follows comments Bee made the night he voted on the marriage issue, saying its advocates — mainly from a group called Center for Arizona Policy — "confronted members in hostile ways and threatened and coerced them."

Explaining those criticisms, Bee said they were "focused on the advocates for the marriage bill, but it was also focused on lobbyists across the board, who I believe have been getting way out of hand."

Former GOP Congressman Jim Kolbe, who is gay, said last week that he no longer is actively campaigning for Bee. When Bee was asked if his vote for the marriage measure had cost him the support of Kolbe, Bee said: "That connection was not made in any conversation with me.

"Right now, for personal reasons, (Kolbe) will not be actively leading the campaign," Bee said. "He will still be continuing to advise me on policy issues."