https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2021/08/10/arizona-state-sen-navarrete-resigns-after-child-sex-abuse-case-arrest/5561778001/

Arizona state Sen. Tony Navarrete resigns seat after arrest in child sex abuse case

Otoniel "Tony" Navarrete resigned his Arizona state Senate seat Tuesday afternoon in a brief letter to Senate President Karen Fann, five days after Navarrete was arrested on seven felony charges related to child sex abuse.

The resignation is effective immediately, Fann said.

The resignation ends a five-year legislative career for the Phoenix Democrat, who has represented a district that stretches from west-central Phoenix to Glendale.

It follows days of a torrent of calls for him to step down from the seat he was re-elected to last fall.

In a written statement to Fann, with Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Rios copied, Navarrete wrote simply, "Effective immediately, I am officially resigning my post as Arizona State Senator for District 30."

"I'm very glad he decided to do the right thing so he can figure out his next steps," said Fann, R-Prescott.

Fann said she and Rios, D-Phoenix, will issue a joint statement about the resignation. The two leaders issued a joint plea Monday calling for his immediate departure, especially after an ethics investigation was launched.

Navarrete's resignation triggers a replacement process that starts with the precinct committee chairmen in Legislative District 30. They will nominate three candidates, who by law must all be Democrats, as Navarrete is a Democrat.

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will choose a replacement from that list, who will be sworn in and will serve out the rest of Navarrete's term, which ends in January 2023.

A status conference on Navarrete's case is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday.