Linda Lopez submitted a letter of resignation to the Senate, announcing that she would be leaving her post effective Jan. 13. In her letter, Lopez said she will miss the “exciting and, yes, sometimes frustrating” experiences she has had the last 13 years as a legislator. She also praised Biggs for having an open door: “You’ve always been willing to listen and give thoughtful consideration to the issues I brought to you.”
While lauding Biggs for exhibiting “grace under fire,” Lopez also criticized some of her soon-to-be-former colleagues, saying she has “witnessed a diminution of respect for the institution and for other members of the Legislature.”
Lopez acknowledged that her parting statement was aimed at some of her Democratic colleagues, who have abused moderate Democrats like Leah Landrum Taylor, but that it also applied to lawmakers across the board.
In her letter, Lopez said she “was fortunate enough to come on board when there were still a lot of folks there who had been around for a while, and were statesmen.” She complained that new members “didn’t have that appropriate role model for them.” She said the effects of the Legislature were felt “across the board – it wasn’t just colleagues on my side of the aisle, it was across the aisle as well.”
Of course, while Lopez criticized her colleagues, they and others criticized her resignation. Lopez delayed her resignation in order to protect her pension.
Her departure will leave a vacancy in the Senate until a replacement, chosen by the Pima County Board of Supervisors, takes office.