The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors selected Quanta Cruz to fill the vacancy in the Arizona House of Representatives.
The Board voted 4-0 to appoint Mr. Cruz, a real estate appraiser who has also worked in property tax assessments for various government agencies. She is also pastor of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Phoenix. She holds a BA in History and Behavioral Science from Grand Canyon University.
Cruz is familiar with the appointment process. Last month, she was one of three candidates being considered for a vacancy in the Senate before finally being selected as the current Senator. Phoenix Democrat Flavio Bravo waived his House seat in Phoenix’s Midwest 26th District for the move, filling the vacancy on Monday.
By law, a successor must be selected from the same party as the person leaving parliament.
Mr. Cruz was nominated by Superintendent Steve Gallardo, whose congressional constituency is his constituency. Citing her extensive experience, he said, “She knows the big issues facing Legislative District 26 and the state of Arizona.”
He also noted that Crew brings diversity to Congress. She will be one of only two African-American members of Congress and the only black Democrat on the Capitol.
“Thank you to District 26 and my family and friends in the area. I am so honored and grateful that you have appointed me and given me the opportunity to serve. I look forward to working with Mr. Hobbs and his staff “to move Arizona forward,” Mr. Cruz told board members after the vote.
The appointment will return the 60-strong House of Representatives to full force in time for the scheduled June 12th resumption of parliamentary activity.
County oversight boards are authorized by law to fill vacancies on the legislative commission. This appointment makes it happen three times in the last month.
Other candidates considered by the oversight board are:
- Christian Solorio is the Studio Lead for the Architectural Resource Team and has worked on numerous affordable housing projects in metropolitan areas. He was appointed to the House of Representatives at the end of 2021 to fill the vacant seat, but last August lost a four-party primary contesting two seats in the House. Mr. Solorio holds a BA in Architecture from Arizona State University.
- Veronica Monge has served as an office manager at several law firms, including those run by former Attorney General Terry Goddard and former Maricopa County Attorney Candidate Julie Gannigle. Monju also volunteered as office manager for one of Goddard’s major projects, the Stop Dark Money campaign. She is working towards a BA in Criminology and Criminal Justice at her ASU.
This will not be the last Congress to be overturned this year. House Majority Leader Andrés Cano (D-Tucson) announced last month that he would be stepping down from Congress at the end of the regular session.
Kano attended the Harvard Kennedy School in Boston. His eventual resignation would not only trigger a new Congressional replacement, but also an election to elect a new leader within House Democrats.
Here’s where to contact reporters: maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com Or call 602-228-7566 to follow us Twitter @maryjpitzl
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