The selection by Rep. Charlene Fernandez came hours after a lawsuit she filed to stop the selections failed in court
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By Jeremy Duda | Arizona Mirror
House Minority Leader Charlene Fernandez has selected Shereen Lerner, an anthropology and archaeology professor at Mesa Community College, as the first Democratic member of the next Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission.
Lerner, a Tempe resident, has been civically active for years. She serves on Tempe’s census committee, parks and recreation commission, desert conservation commission and police advisory review board. She’s served as president of the Arizona Archaeological Council and Arizona Preservation Council and chaired Tempe’s historic preservation commission.
Prior to joining the faculty at Mesa Community College in 1992, Lerner worked as a historic preservation officer at Arizona State Parks. She received a Ph.D. from Arizona State University in 1984.
As an anthropologist and historic preservationist, Fernandez said Lerner “has a great sense of the history and of the people of Arizona, and she has built deep long-lasting relationships with diverse communities throughout the entire state that will serve her well.”
Senate president picks Maricopa County businessman as second Republican for redistricting commission; membership as it stands today
By Jeremy Duda | Arizona Mirror
Senate President Karen Fann selected Douglas York, who runs an irrigation and landscape supply company in Phoenix, as the second Republican and third overall member of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission.
And in choosing someone from Maricopa County, Fann, R-Prescott, limited Senate Minority Leader David Bradley’s choices in choosing the AIRC’s second Democrat. No more than two of the commissioners chosen by Republican and Democratic legislative leaders can be from the same county, and York is the second member from Maricopa County. Bradley now has one week to make his selection.
Fann, R-Prescott, said she met with all 10 Republican finalists for the redistricting commission. All were qualified and it was a difficult choice, she said, but in the end her choice was York. She had until Nov. 5 to make her appointment — a week after House Minority Leader Charlene Fernandez made her selection — but announced her pick after only one day.
