The architect of Arizona’s controversial anti-immigration law,
Republican state senator Russell Pearce, was voted out of office in a
historic recall election last November. The conservative immigration
hawk represented the deep red legislative district 18 that spans across
most of Mesa, AZ.
Pearce had previously served as a sheriff’s deputy under Sheriff Joe
Arpaio, where he received a Medal of Valor after being shot by gang
members. He also served as the Director of the Arizona Motor Vehicle
Devision prior to being elected to the State Senate in 2000. He was
serving as the Senate President when he was ousted from office by
Republican Jerry Lewis in 2011.
At the heart of the recall election was the controversial bill SB
1070 which, if upheld by the Supreme Court, will require police officers
and other law enforcement officials to check immigration documents on
all suspected undocumented workers in the state.
Business and community leaders in Mesa disagreed with Pearce’s
draconian approach to immigration reform, and quietly helped push the
lawmaker out of office, replacing him with Lewis, a conservative more
friendly to the business community.
