By Katie Campbell | Arizona Capitol Times
Former Senate President Steve Pierce is poised to make a reluctant comeback at the Capitol in the wake of David Stringer’s sudden resignation on Wednesday.
Candidates for the appointment to the Legislative District 1 House seat have not even been narrowed down yet, but a desire for a swift return to the usual order of business has the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors eyeing Pierce, a legislative veteran whose only interest is in serving through the remainder of Stringer’s term.
Pierce said he did not volunteer himself but rather was asked to step up by the precinct committeemen.
“I told them that I didn’t want to go down there, that I’ve been there and done that, but that I would do it to help in any way I could until the next election,” he said.
If appointed to the seat, Pierce said he will not seek re-election at the end of the term.
State GOP spokesman Zachery Henry said the Secretary of State’s Office gave the party official notice of the House vacancy yesterday evening, and the party will notify the Yavapai County Republican Committee by tomorrow morning at the latest.
The committeemen intend to meet on Sunday to select three candidates for the county supervisors’ consideration. They have five days to make their selections, but with Pierce as a clear frontrunner, supervisors are already anticipating the final list by April 1 ahead of the regularly scheduled meeting on April 3.
