By a narrow 3-2 vote, the Pima County Board of Supervisors appointed Independent Nicholas Fontana to fill the seat in Legislative District 29.
Fontana will take the seat vacated by former House member Daniel Patterson who resigned.
Fontana did not attend the meeting. He says he did not attend out of courtesy to the board members who had to vote and argue the merits of his appointment. He says he did not want to cause them embarrassment.
Fontana says his job is as caretaker to finish out the term for about six months.
District 29 goes away because of redistricting and will be replaced by District 2.
Fontana says he will not run in the new district.
Fontana reregistered as an Independent to apply for the office.
He says he will caucus with the Southern Arizona delegation not the Democrats or Republicans.
He says as a lawyer who can "hit the ground running," he's a good choice because he can absorb the rules and procedures very quickly.
He says the people of LD 29 deserve an orderly transition.
Leon Sierra was nominated by the board chair, Ramone Valadez, but he could garner only two votes.
Fontana was then nominated by District 3 Supervisor Sharon Bronson, who was joined by District 4 Supervisor Ray Carroll and District 1 Supervisor Ann Day in approving Fontana.
There was no board discussion.
District 4 Supervisor Rich Elias says he was surprised by the decision but feels Fontana is well qualified.
