Gilbert councilman Eddie Cook selected as new Maricopa County Assessor

Cook replaces Paul Petersen who's accused of running a human smuggling operation that paid pregnant women from the Marshall Islands to give up their babies in the United States.

PHOENIX - Maricopa County has a new assessor.

Gilbert councilman Eddie Cook was approved to the position by a unanimous vote Friday.

(Town of Gilbert)

Cook replaces Paul Petersen who's accused of running a human smuggling operation that paid pregnant women from the Marshall Islands to give up their babies in the United States.

Petersen resigned last month.

The current assessor term runs through December 31.