By Ben Giles | Arizona Capitol Times
GOP leaders in Maricopa County selected Republicans Dave Farnsworth, John Fillmore and Rep. Kelly Townsend as nominees to serve as the next state senator in Legislative District 16.
The slate of nominees will be forwarded to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, which will select one of three to replace former Sen. Rich Crandall.
Deference is typically given to the supervisor representing the district where the former lawmaker resided, leaving District 2 Supervisor Steve Chucri to decide which nominee will serve the remainder of Crandall’s term.
Crandall’s seat was declared vacant by Senate President Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert, on Aug. 22 after the former senator repeatedly pushed back the date of his resignation following his move to Wyoming, where he now serves as the director of that state’s Department of Education.
