Nicholas "Nick" Anthony Fontana
General Information
- Nick Fontana, Nicholas A. Fontana
- Male
- Tucson, Pima Co., AZ, USA
Biographical Information
April 11, 2012, Rep. Daniel Patterson resigned his seat in the Arizona House of Representatives. (Alia Beard Rau. "Rep. Daniel Patterson resigns from Arizona House: Says the chamber has become a hostile work environment." azcentral.com (Phoenix, AZ), April 11, 2012; Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services. "Facing likely expulsion from house, state legislator Patterson resigns." eastvalleytribune.com (Mesa, AZ), April 11, 2012
Filling the LD29 seat was complicated by the the fact that Rep. Patterson had been elected as a Democrat but switched his party affiliation to Independent on April 2, 2012. He then switched his party affiliation back to Democrat but apparently not until after he submitted his letter of resignation. (Associated Press. "Officials weigh timing of registration change for Daniel Patterson." abc15.com (Phoenix, AZ), April 12, 2012: "...And the Secretary of State's Office says computer records indicate Patterson made the change online at 2:01 p.m. That's after Patterson submitted his resignation to Speaker Andy Tobin to head off expulsion proceedings by the House...." ); Jim Nintzel. "Bennett: Supes Must Pick Independent To Fill Patterson's Seat." tucsonweekly.com, April 12, 2012: "Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett has informed Pima County Supervisor Ramon Valadez that state Rep. Daniel Patterson was an independent at the time of his resignation yesterday, so the seat is supposed to go to an independent...."
Carolyn Classen. "Attorney/judge Nick Fontana appointed to LD 29 House seat." tucsoncitizen.com, April 23, 2012:
Fontana is a local Tucsonan, born & raised here, graduate of Cholla HS, University of AZ General Studies and UA Law School, and is a sitting Judge Pro Tem at the Tohono O’odham Tribal Court.... He is a life long Democrat (since March 1984) and only became an Independent on April 14, 2012....
Fontana will be the sole Independent in the AZ State House of Representatives.
April 17, 2012 letter from Nicholas A. Fontana to the Pima County Board of Supervisors:
...I am a registered Independent and reside in Legislative District 29. I was born, raised, and educated in Tucson, Arizona. Aside from two years in Flagstaff, I have been a resident of Tucson for my entire life. I have lived at my current address in LD 29 since 1994. I am fully aware of the issues confronting the residents of LD 29, the City of Tucson, and Pima County....
April 30, 2012, Nicholas Fontana was sworn in as Representative for Legislative District 29. (Jim Small. "Fontana sworn in as Legislature prepares to end session." azcapitoltimes.com, April 30, 2012: "Nicholas Fontana was sworn in today as the newest member of the House of Representatives, just in time to do the one thing the Constitution requires of the Legislature: approve a budget....")
Education
Juris Doctorate, University of Arizona School of Law, (n.d.)
Bachelors: General Studies, University of Arizona, (n.d.)
Military Experience
Juris Doctorate, University of Arizona School of Law, (n.d.)
Bachelors: General Studies, University of Arizona, (n.d.)
Arizona Legislative Service
| Session | Chamber | Party | District | City | County | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50th Legislature, 2nd Regular | House | Independent | 29 - Pima (2003-12) | Tucson | Pima | sworn in 4/30/2012 replacing Rep. Daniel Patterson who resigned |