By Monica D. Spencer | InMaricopa
When Arizona state Sen. T.J. Shope started representing Maricopa earlier this year, he instantly fell in love with its residents and their community spirit.
The sixth-term state lawmaker from Coolidge long represented Legislative District 8, which covered Casa Grande and most of Pinal County but ended at Maricopa’s northern and eastern limits. After last year’s redistricting, he moved to District 16 and inherited Maricopa for the first time in his lengthy tenure in the state chambers.
“Frankly, I love the people,” Shope told InMaricopa. “There is a newness and positivity about the community.”
It’s that fresh idea of a young, burgeoning city — a stark contrast to others in the county — that he believes drives residents to move to Maricopa.
