Nick Fontana, J.D., courtesy of David Snyder Photography

The citizens committee reviewed cover letters and resumes, and a report from the Pima County Recorder’s Office before making their 3 selections of the 11 applicants (one withdrew prior to any review). The replacement had to be an Independent (No party preference) living in LD 29. The 3 nominees were Nicholas Fontana, Albert Jordan and Leon Sierra.

Fontana is a local Tucsonan, born & raised here, graduate of Cholla HS, University of AZ General Studies and UA Law School, and is a sitting Judge Pro Tem at the Tohono O’odham Tribal Court. He does mostly criminal defense work and can be reached at fontanalaw@cox.net. He is a life long Democrat (since March 1984) and only became an Independent on April 14, 2012.

District 2 Supervisor/Chair Ramon Valadez made the first motion to appoint Leon Sierra, 2nd by Richard Elias, but the vote failed 2-3. Then Supervisor Sharon Bronson made a motion to appoint Nick Fontana, 2nd by Ann Day, motion passed 3-2, with Elias & Valadez against.

Fontana will be sworn in shortly and will serve the remainder of former Rep. Daniel Patterson’s term through the end of December, 2012. Patterson resigned on April 11, 2012 facing expulsion by the full AZ House of Representatives, following recommendation of expulsion by the House Ethics Committee. Patterson had been facing allegations of disorderly conduct and domestic violence against both his former campaign manager/girlfriend, and ex-wife.

For Fontana’s resume/cover letter go to www.pima.gov. Neither Fontana nor Jordan were present today at the Board’s vote, but Sierra was in attendance.

Fontana will be the sole Independent in the AZ State House of Representatives.

Patterson had been elected as a Democrat to LD 29 twice in 2008 and 2010 and earlier this year changed his voter registration to Independent on April 2, 2012. Upon his resignation that AZ Secretary of State informed the Chair of the Pima County Board of Supervisors Ramon Valadez that a replacement should be an Independent (No Party Preference) in LD 29, since Patterson was an Independent when he formally resigned.

Today the Pima County Board of Supervisors appointed a 5 member citizen’s committee to review applications and submit 3 names to them within a week. The deadline for applicants is 3 p.m. Wednesday April 18, to Pima County Clerk Robin Brigode.

The Supervisors, after some discussion this morning about publicity and transparency, appointed to the citizen’s committee:

–former LD 29 State Senator Victor Soltero (D)
–former LD 29 State House Rep. Tom Prezelski (D, who ironically lost to Patterson in Sept.2008 in the Democratic primary)
–former LD 9 State House Rep. Lou-Ann Preble (R)
–Kristin Almquist (I), former Director of Tucson office for Governor Janet Napolitano
–Julee Dawson (I), Development director at the Tucson Hebrew Academy

The Board’s motion to appoint these individuals was passed unanimously and gave the committee a deadline of 3 p.m. Friday to select 3 names for the appointment, in order to allow community input over the weekend. Then the Supervisors will select the appointee at a special board meeting at 10 a.m. on April 23.

Present at today’s meeting was Independent* James Kelley, a transportation specialist for Union Pacific Railroad personnel, a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, formerly “The Cholla Jumps” blogger here at Tucsoncitizen.com before he created his own blogsite (no longer in operation). Kelley is the only applicant so far for this LD 29 House seat.

At today’s meeting District 4 Supervisor Ray Carroll inquired if Pima County Elections or the Recorder’s Office could attempt to send a “robo-call” to all Independents living in LD 29 to inform them of this vacancy and how to apply. The discussion seemed to indicate that this type of publicity would be cost-prohibitive, especially with the contested CD 8 House primary election tomorrow.

* Update: Kelley told me at the meeting today that he is an Independent, but according to Pima County Recorder’s Office, he is still registered as a Republican (and has been since June, 2003). I’ve called Kelley for clarification on this, as he has served as Chair of the LD 29 Republican Party in the past. I just spoke with Kelley and he did register as an Independent on April 11, 2012 (the same day Patterson resigned), and has written confirmation of this from the AZ Secretary of State.