Russell Pearce, Conservative Champion, Faces Recall in Arizona
It has been a rough year for Russell Pearce, the president of the Arizona Senate, as he has sought to solidify his state’s reputation as the nation’s incubator for hard-edged conservative policies.
He has seen fellow Republicans defy him and the Republican governor issue a raft of vetoes to keep his agenda in check. Now, so many critics in his suburban district have signed a recall petition that he will be forced to defend himself in a special election.
“It’s time for him to go,” said Randy Parraz, a labor organizer from outside Mr. Pearce’s district who has been leading the effort to oust him.
On Wednesday, Mr. Parraz, a Democrat, gathered with other members of Citizens for a Better Arizona outside the State Capitol to announce that Maricopa County had validated 8,239 signatures from Mr. Pearce’s constituents, more than the 7,756 required to force a recall election.