# Joe Hart (politician)

Joe Hart (May 8, 1944 – September 11, 2022) was an American politician who served as the 11th State Mine Inspector of Arizona (2007–2021) and as a Member of the Arizona House of Representatives representing Arizona's 2nd Legislative District (1992–2001). He was a member of the Republican Party.

## Education and career

Hart attended Fullerton Junior College and Mohave Community College.
Hart previously worked for the Black Mountain Cattle Company, as the Safety Inspector for the Duval Mining Corporation (then owner of the Mineral Park mine) and at Hart to Hart Trucking. He was also the owner of radio stations KGMN, KZKE, and KYET, and television station KKAX-LD.

## Legal issues

In 2017, Hart was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence following a physical altercation with his 59 year old nephew. The fight was instigated by a disagreement over repairs to a water pipe. This charge was later dismissed by the Kingman city attorney.

## Electoral history

Arizona State Mine Inspector Election, 2018 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Joe Hart (inc.) | 1,168,798 | 51.7 |
| Democratic | William Pierce | 1,090,346 | 48.3 |
Arizona State Mine Inspector Election, 2014 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Joe Hart (inc.) | 1,050,509 | 100.0 |
Arizona State Mine Inspector Election, 2010 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Joe Hart (inc.) | 916,046 | 57.1 |
| Democratic | Manuel Cruz | 687,310 | 42.9 |
Arizona State Mine Inspector Election, 2006 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Joe Hart | 1,057,097 | 100.0 |
State Mine Inspector – 2006 Republican Primary :
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| Joe Hart | 127,800 | 50.6 |
| Larry Nelson | 124,778 | 49.4 |
Arizona House of Representatives District 2 Election, 1998 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | John Verkamp (inc.) | 23,375 | 40.7 |
| Republican | Joe Hart (inc.) | 18,144 | 31.6 |
| Democratic | Richard "Cowboy" Swanson | 15,903 | 27.7 |
Arizona House of Representatives District 2 Election, 1996 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | John Verkamp (inc.) | 35,953 | 42.3 |
| Republican | Joe Hart (inc.) | 31,979 | 37.6 |
| Libertarian | John Williams | 8,853 | 10.4 |
| Libertarian | Sunny Reid | 8,280 | 9.7 |
Arizona House of Representatives District 2 Republican Primary Election, 1996 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | John Verkamp (inc.) | 7,900 | 45.7 |
| Republican | Joe Hart (inc.) | 6,864 | 39.7 |
| Republican | Timothy Webb | 2,507 | 14.5 |
Arizona House of Representatives District 2 Election, 1994 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | John Verkamp (inc.) | 24,771 | 39.7 |
| Republican | Joe Hart (inc.) | 19,989 | 32.0 |
| Democratic | Florence Karlstrom | 17,644 | 28.3 |
Arizona House of Representatives District 2 Republican Primary Election, 1994 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | John Verkamp (inc.) | 6,188 | 36.4 |
| Republican | Joe Hart (inc.) | 6,010 | 35.3 |
| Republican | Barbara Miller | 4,818 | 28.3 |
Arizona House of Representatives District 2 Election, 1992 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | John Verkamp (inc.) | 26,738 | 28.5 |
| Republican | Joe Hart | 19,696 | 21.0 |
| Democratic | Ginger Engen | 19,015 | 20.2 |
| Democratic | Joe Lingerfelt | 18,201 | 19.4 |
| Independent Republican | Ben Benton | 5,532 | 5.9 |
| Libertarian | Clifford "Sunny" Reid, Jr. | 2,430 | 2.6 |
| Libertarian | Eric Boudette | 2,345 | 2.5 |