Daniel Patterson’s replacement in the Arizona House of Representatives will be an independent, not a Democrat. From Phoenix, KJZZ’s Mark Brodie reports.

Daniel Patterson (Photo by Mark Brodie - KJZZ)

MARK BRODIE: Patterson changed his party registration from Democrat to independent earlier this month. But, he then re-registered as a Democrat yesterday. That brought questions about the party affiliation of the person who would replace him. State law requires appointed replacement lawmakers to be from the same party as the legislator they’re replacing. In a letter today to the Chairman of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, Secretary of State Ken Bennett writes Patterson’s resignation was effective at 1:36 yesterday afternoon, and he re-registered as a Democrat at 2:01 P.M, meaning he was an independent when he resigned. The Pima County Board of Supervisors will appoint a panel to recommend three possible replacements; the board will then choose one of them to serve the rest of Patterson’s term.