New Phoenix lawmaker to replace Terech to be appointed soon

(The Center Square) – Legislative District 4 is expected to get a new Democratic lawmaker in the coming weeks, even though the session is now over.

Kelli Butler, Karen Gresham and Eric Meyer were the three individuals chosen by precinct committeemen in the district that covers parts of northeast Phoenix last week, according to the Arizona Republic . Butler and Gresham are already running together with Sen. Christine Marsh as the Democratic slate in what’s one of the most competitive districts in the state.

Those three names are now in the hands of the Republican-majority Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, which is legally required to choose a member of the party that left the vacancy. Former Rep. Laura Terech resigned from her position after the legislative session concluded in June to work for the Secretary of State’s office.

The county told The Center Square on Monday that background checks for each candidate are in progress and that a vote could come as soon as July 22, which is the next regularly scheduled meeting for the board.

Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, would be the new member’s seatmate, but there is unlikely to be much for the appointee to do given that the session has wrapped up for the year. Still, if the board ends up choosing Butler or Gresham, it could potentially boost their name recognition in a race for retainment this November.

As for Terech, she was the seventh Democratic lawmaker to leave the Arizona State House this session. Most left for other jobs, while former Rep. Jevin Hodge left amid a sexual misconduct scandal weeks after he was appointed to fill a vacancy.