2 Democratic Arizona state lawmakers to step down from office on Nov. 15

PHOENIX - Two prominent Democrats announced Thursday they’re stepping down from the Arizona House, further shaking up a Legislature that has seen a flurry of resignations ahead of the 2022 session.

Charlene Fernandez

In a letter posted to State Rep. Charlene Fernandez's Twitter, the Democratic lawmaker says she has accepted a position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to a White House statement released on Nov. 4, Fernandez has been appointed as the State Director for Rural Development in Arizona for the Department of Agriculture.

"It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve the constituents of Legislative District 4," read a portion of the statement. "I will continue serving those communities, with the same Democratic values, in a new capacity as I move on to a new chapter."

Fernandez has represented the 4th Legislative District stretching from southwestern Arizona to the outer reaches of the Phoenix metro area since 2015. The district is home to farms producing most of the nation’s lettuce during winter months.

"I have had the opportunity to represent working families, teachers, farmers and so many more who have taught me the great need for continued action across our state," Fernandez wrote in her resignation letter addressed to Reps. Rusty Bowers, the Republican House speaker, and Reginald Bolding, the minority leader. "I will continue serving those communities, with the same Democratic values, in a new capacity as I move on to a new chapter."

She has deep ties to Arizona Democratic politics, having previously worked for U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, former Rep. Ed Pastor and former Gov. Janet Napolitano. In the Legislature, Fernandez was a prominent progressive lawmaker and rose to be House minority leader steering the Democrats’ strategy and messaging.

State Rep. Fernandez was first elected to the State House in 2014, when she and Lisa Otonto were the top two vote-getters in the race for Legislative District 4's two seats. Legislative District 4 covers portions of Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, and Yuma Counties. She gave up the minority leader job after a disappointing showing for House Democrats in the 2020 election, which included the unexpected loss by Democratic Rep. Gerae Peten to a Republican in the same district as Fernandez.

Fernandez is the second House Democrat to leave for a Biden administration job, following Arlando Teller’s appointment earlier this year as deputy assistant secretary for tribal affairs at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Randall Friese

Rep. Randall Friese of Tucson, formerly the assistant minority leader and a trauma surgeon, said he’s leaving "to refocus my time and attention on my medical career and service."

"I am extremely proud of my service to my community and the state during the seven years I represented Legislative District 9," Friese wrote in his resignation letter.

Friese in September abruptly dropped out of the campaign for an open congressional seat in Southern Arizona despite his fundraising lead among Democratic candidates. He cited his desire to focus on his medical career for that decision as well.

Friese treated then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords after she was critically wounded in the Jan. 8, 2011, mass shooting in Tucson. He is a trauma surgeon who has served in the Arizona House since 2015.

The departures of Fernandez and Friese further shake up the Legislature, which has seen an unusually high level of turnover this year with several lawmakers quitting for a variety of reasons or moving from the House to the Senate.

Both Fernandez and Friese said their resignations are effective Nov. 15. Democratic precinct committee leaders in each district will nominate a list of potential replacements, with the final decision made by the elected supervisors in their home counties. State law requires their successors to be from the same political party.

The Associated Press (AP) contributed to this report.

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