Joe Eddie Lopez

Biographical Information

Rep. Earl V. Wilcox on January 9, 1997 submitted a letter stating that he would not present a certificate of election as Representative for District 22.   He resigned to become a Justice of the Peace in Maryvale.  He was replaced by Joe Eddie Lopez who was appointed January 22, 1991 as Representative for District 22 and who was sworn in January 24, 1991 (Journal of the House of Representatives, 40th Legislature, 1991, pp. v, 643; "Rep. Wilcox to Resign Seat to Become JP in Maryvale."  The Arizona Republic, January 9, 1991, p. B7).  The following is from ALIS for the 45th Arizona State Legislature (2001-2002):

State Senator
Joe Eddie Lopez
Democrat -- District 22
Office number: 312
Phone: 602-542-4171
E-mail: [email protected]
Home City: Phoenix
Occupation: Full Time Legislator
Member Since: 1991
 
Joe Eddie Lopez was born in Duran, New Mexico.  After years of traveling the migrant stream, Lopez and his family established permanent residency in Maricopa County in 1949.  He graduated from Peoria High School in 1957 and attended Arizona State University.  He is married to Rosie and they have two children, Debbie and Eddie, and one granddaughter, Maritza and a new grandson, Jacob. He is a member of the Catholic Church.

Joe Eddie Lopez was elected to the Arizona State Senate in 1996 as a Democrat representing District 22.  In 1991 he was appointed to serve in the House of Representatives for District 22 (1991-1992) and served 3 consecutive terms until December of 1996.  Joe Eddie Lopez first served as an elected official as a member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in Phoenix, Arizona from 1972 until 1976.  He also served for 6 years as a member of the Phoenix Union High School District governing Board from 1990 until 1996.  Senator Lopez serves on the Appropriations Committee, Education Committee, Family Services Committee and is a member of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

Mr. Lopez is currently a Member of the Board of Directors of Tiempo Development; a Member of Los Diablos, Inc.; and a Member of the Arizona Hispanic Community Forum.  He also serves as a member of Mexican-American Legislators Policy Institute, and represents the state of Arizona in the Tourism and Economic Development Committee of the National Council of State Legislators

Mr. Lopez served a five year apprenticeship and worked as a journeyman steam fitter as a member of the Plumbers, Pipefitters and Refrigeration Workers Local 469.  He was also a Business Representative for the Construction, Production and Maintenance Laborers Local 383.  Mr. Lopez served as the Affirmative Action Administrator for the Arizona Department of Transportation and was President of a nonprofit Housing Development Corporation.

Some of his past affiliations include: Co-Founder and Chairman of Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc.; CoFounder and Board Member of Valle Del Sol, Inc.; Co-Founder and Board Member of Barrio Youth Project; Chairman of the Phoenix Human Relations Commission; and Board Member of Boy Scouts of America, Arizona.

Mr. Lopez is co-author of A Comprehensive Study of Phoenix Union High School, Arizona State Press 1972, with Dr. Grinder and Dr. Clark.  He is the recipient of numerous awards, among them the Outstanding Service to the Community Award from the Arizona Hispanic/Native American Indian School Board Forum, 1989; Community Leadership Award from SER, 1976; Community Leadership Award from Chicanos Por La Causa, 1972; and "El Aguila Award" from Alma de la Gente in 1992.

Employment

Arizona Legislative Service

Sources

Birth: Arizona Legislative Biography sheet