Phoenix attorney appointed to Arizona Legislature; will fill vacant seat through November election

PHOENIX (AP) — The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday appointed Phoenix attorney Charles Lucking to fill a vacancy in the Arizona Legislature.

Lucking will serve through the November general election. He fills the House of Representatives seat in District 5 that was held by Democratic Rep. Amish Shah, who resigned Feb. 1.

Shah, who served five years in the Arizona House, has announced plans to run for the 1st Congressional District seat currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. David Schweikert.

Lucking, who was born and raised in Phoenix, works for a nonprofit law firm that defends tenants facing eviction.

“Arizona is facing a mountain of very complex challenges, such as our housing crisis,” Lucking said in a statement. “I’m eager to get started doing the hard work as a servant of the people to implement real solutions for all Arizonans.”

District 5 runs from northern Phoenix to the city’s downtown area.

Lucking is a Democrat. Under state law, the supervisors must pick candidates who belong to the same political party as the departing lawmakers.