Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
From the many Democrats with whom I have spoken about this over the past few months, their collective response would be "good riddance, don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out." The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports Embattled Patterson leaves Dems; files as independent - Arizona Capitol Times:
An embattled Tucson lawmaker this morning formally left the Democratic Party and became the Legislature’s only independent.
Rep. Daniel Patterson announced on Twitter this morning that he was no longer a Democrat. He told Arizona Capitol Times that he made the decision in an effort to better represent the constituents of Legislative District 29. He said it has nothing to do with a House ethics investigation into him about allegations that he physically assaulted an ex-girlfriend in February.
“Having no official party registration allows me to better serve them,” he said. “I don’t need a political party to tell me how to vote.”
Patterson said he had grown frustrated with the “failed system of partisan politics” and had been thinking about becoming an independent “for a long time,” and decided this morning to change his registration online. He said that he expects the change will give voters in his district confidence that he will be voting in their best interests.
“I think it will reassure people in my district and send a signal…that we now have a true independent in the Legislature,” he said.
Riiiight. The Democrats don't want you, and the Tea-Publicans won't have you. You can caucus by yourself in your car out in the parking lot, because that's where you are going to wind up. No committee assignments, no staff privileges, no party support, and a pending ethics complaint. It's all about you, that's not serving the voters of your district. A rebel without a cause.
UPDATE: Brahm Resnik from 12 News tweets that 12 News has learned that the House Ethics Committee Report will recommend the expulsion of Rep. Daniel Patterson from the House. The full Report is expected later today. I do not find this story posted to 12 News or Brahm Resnik's blog at azcentral.com as yet.
In case you are wondering, Patterson's self-serving conversion to Independent would not affect the right of the Democratic Party to appoint his replacement in the event of his expulsion. Patterson was elected as a Democrat.
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