Longtime state Sen. Steve Pierce tapped to fill Stringer’s LD1 seat | The Daily Courier

A “reset,” a “renewal,” and a “refreshing” – they were all words that Yavapai County Supervisors used April 3, prior to choosing longtime State Sen. Steve Pierce to replace embattled Rep. David Stringer in the House of Representatives. Throughout the board’s special meeting Wednesday morning, supervisors made repeated references to the need to repair the county’s ‘tarnished’ image, and move forward. Although supervisors did not get specific about the cause of the stained reputation, Stringer resigned last week after he reportedly was informed that House Speaker Rusty Bowers had a police report detailing the Prescott Republican’s 1983 arrest in Maryland for allegedly having sex with two teenage boys. Stringer’s resignation came in the midst of a House Ethics Committee probe into his recent racially disparaging comments, as well as the Maryland charges. Board of Supervisors Chairman Randy Garrison called the situation “an unfortunate occurrence, but it is what we’re dealing with.” He added: “I see this position (appointment) as being a reset.” Supervisor Craig Brown maintained that while the county’s credibility had been “pristine” in the past – producing three recent Senate presidents and one Speaker of the House – he said: “This tarnish that we have felt the last six months or so has created a serious problem.” With this week’s appointment, Brown said, “I want to make sure that whichever way we go, that everybody realizes that we’re working hard to make sure the confidence in the state of Yavapai County as a leader is going to be renewed and refreshed.” THREE NOMINEES By state law, the party of the departing legislator recommends three choices to the supervisors of the legislator’s home county. The county, which had prepared for the process last week, posted an agenda for Wednesday’s special meeting on Monday, listing the three nominees: Pierce;

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