Lawmakers aren’t likely to kick out Rep. Stringer

There hasn’t been any indication that the Arizona House of Representatives will move to expel Rep. David Stringer.

The one-word explanation: guts. The lack thereof.

Earlier this year, the House expelled Rep. Don Shooter for what was described as “dishonorable” behavior following an investigation that concluded that he had sexually harassed women over many years.

Stringer’s offense is making racist, xenophobic remarks, and apparently believing what he says.

We like to pretend such a person doesn’t represent what voters want or believe. Republican House Speaker Rusty Bowers called Stringer’s comments “vile” and has stripped him of a number of committee assignments.

“His remarks don’t reflect the sentiments of the Arizona Legislature, the constituents we represent, and the policies we enact,” Bowers said. They don’t?

Because Stringer’s proclivity for the racist and the xenophobic was wellknown, having come out last summer, and his constituents re-elected him.

After Stringer’s comments were made public in June, Gov. Doug Ducey and others said Stringer should resign. He didn’t.

Instead, he won re-election by wide margin, getting 67,023 votes, more than twice the nearest Democrat.

Prescott City Council this week voted 6-1 to condemn Stringer and urge him to resign.

Mayor Greg Mengarelli said, “His abhorrent words do not reflect our city or our community and while we condemn them, that word, any word, is not strong enough to express our disdain. As proud members of this community, we are horrified that the opinions expressed by Mr. Stringer exist.”

Again, I get the abhorrence and the disdain, but in terms of reflecting the community, there are those 67,023 votes.

The lone council member to vote against the resolution condemning Stringer was Phil Goode.

He said of voters, “They re-elected him by a large margin with an understanding of his concerns about assimilation of immigrants that were widely published last June prior to his November election.”

Exactly.

They knew about him; they voted for him anyway.

Given that, can members of the Legislature expel him?

Yes.

Will they?

Depends on that word again: guts. Stringer’s constituents support him. Many of them may even support his racist, xenophobic tendencies.

Then again, Don Shooter’s constituents supported him, too. And it could

be that a number of them weren’t bothered by his boorish, harassing behavior toward woman.

Lawmakers expelled Shooter because they decided his behavior was unacceptable, period.

When the first audio of Stringer speaking the language of bigots was released over the summer, Ducey said, “I don’t think there’s any place for that kind of commentary in the public square and he’s basically disqualified himself to lead at the state level.”

This time around, Ducey is more circumspect, saying, “I’m going to be respectful of the voters and of a separate and co-equal branch. But I will say I’m supportive of the Speaker’s actions in stripping him of his committee.”

Lawmakers remained respectful of voters when they expelled Shooter because they were answering to a higher calling, being respectful of the Constitution and what it stands for.

They can do the same with Stringer. Will they?

Depends on that word again.