As Senate president he was recalled by Mesa voters in 2011, the first such Arizona lawmaker to be ousted from office.
Howard Fischer PHOENIX — Russell Pearce, the sponsor of Arizona's 2010 comprehensive and controversial law about illegal immigration, died Thursday at his home at age 75.
But his sponsorship of that and other anti-immigrant legislation led to an effort in 2011 by voters in his Mesa legislative district to recall Pearce, by then the Senate president. The move was successful, resulting in the only such ouster of a state lawmaker from office in Arizona history. The legislation also triggered a letter from the CEOs of some of Arizona's largest companies urging the Legislature to put a hold on new immigration laws.Mesa city councilman Dennis Kavanaugh, who represented about half of Pearce's legislative district, said the defeat was no surprise. He said the district had become more politically diverse, especially among independents.
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