Northern Arizona city leaders vote to ask Rep. David Stringer to resign

PHOENIX – The Prescott City Council passed a nearly unanimous motion Tuesday asking Arizona state Rep. David Stringer to resign after the legislator recently made more racially-charged remarks in public.

The resolution was approved, 6-1, in a special meeting. Councilman Phil Goode voted no.

The resolution called on Stringer to resign immediately, saying in a statement that he can “no longer effectively represent Prescott and Yavapai County.

“Mr. Stringer’s misguided, outdated and offensive opinions reflect poorly and inaccurately on all of us,” the statement continued.

“Our front porches don’t discriminate based on the color of someone’s skin. Neighbors are neighbors, visitors are visitors, and friends are friends. Clearly, Mr. Stringer does not represent these foundational values.”

Stringer, a Republican who represents most of Yavapai County, including Prescott, was recorded Nov. 19 telling an audience that African-Americans “don’t blend in. They always look different.” He also said teaching children whose first language wasn’t English was “a burden on the taxpayers.”

It was the second time this year Stringer was accused of making insensitive remarks about race. In June, he told an audience “there aren’t enough white kids to go around.”

Mayor Greg Mengarelli said before the vote got underway, said, “Mr. Stringer is entitled to his opinions but they are harmful to our community. … This is a moral issue that needs to be addressed.”

Councilman Steve Sischka said he was hesitant about his vote because “I didn’t want to make Rep. Stringer a martyr.”

But, he said, “I don’t feel Rep. Stringer can effectively represent us down at the state level.”

Goode said it wasn’t within the scope of the council to make such a move and that “I know David reasonably well and he is not likely to resign due to this council’s action.

“… Make no mistake, I do not condone his statement or his beliefs … (but) we will most likely lose any support of his the next two years.”

Stringer’s term ends in 2019.

Before the vote got underway, Mengarelli told spectators the meeting was forgoing the usual public comment portion.

Gov. Doug Ducey told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mac & Gaydos on Monday, “When he did the last time, I said it was ‘disqualifying.’ I stand by the statement and applaud (House Speaker J.D. Mesnard) stripping him of his committee.

“I think a lot of citizens in Yavapai County, in his district, are starting to hear about this and he’s going to hear from them.”

Stringer was removed from the chair of the House Sentencing and Recidivism Reform Committee last week.

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