Julie Willoughby appointed to Legislature to replace ousted Liz Harris
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors chose trauma nurse Julie Willoughby to replace expelled lawmaker Liz Harris in a special meeting.
The 4-1 vote Friday followed a brief discussion amidst a small crowd at the board’s downtown Phoenix chambers.
Willoughby was one of three Republican candidates nominated by GOP officials to fill the House vacancy in Legislative District 13, which includes most of Chandler and part of Gilbert. The other two candidates were Liz Harris — who was the most popular pick by the district officials — and Steven Steele, a retired natural-gas worker and motorcycle-operator trainer.
Willoughby lost to Harris in the November election by just 275 votes following a recount.
Harris, a first-term lawmaker, lost her job last month after an investigation revealed that she’d lied to the state House Ethics Committee and brought disrepute to the House by inviting a witness to give false testimony in a public hearing.
On April 12th, the day after the committee released a report with its findings, the House expelled Harris in a historic 46-13 vote. Though some lawmakers have resigned over the years due to the prospect of possible expulsion, Harris was only the second House member expelled since two were expelled at the same time in 1948. The House expelled Don Shooter in 2018.
Board of Supervisors criticized for taking time to make appointment
The five-member board, made up of four Republicans and a Democrat, was criticized for not making the appointment sooner.
The Republican state senator who represents Legislative District 13, J.D. Mesnard, said in a Senate floor speech Wednesday that rumors were flying that the supervisors stalled the appointment in an effort to compel the Legislature to pass unspecified legislation. A spokesman for the board denied the allegation and that the appointment had taken an overly long time in a subsequent letter to The Arizona Republic.
But the lack of an appointment over nearly three weeks did stymie Republicans in the Legislature from passing party-line bills, because 31 votes are needed to pass legislation and Harris’ exit meant they had only 30.
The successful candidate could be sworn in any time after her or his appointment, but the House isn’t scheduled to return to work until Monday.
The expulsion doesn’t affect Harris’ ability to run for office again next year. This week, Democrat Jennifer Pawlik, the top vote-getter in Legislative District 13 in last year’s election, announced that she would not run for office again. That prompted speculation that Republicans — possibly including Harris — might have a better chance of winning both House seats in 2024.
Reach the reporter at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @raystern.
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