Biggs to run for state house in LD 16

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An Apache Junction city council member is resigning his seat to run for a spot in the Arizona Legislature in the newly reconfigured District 16, which includes Maricopa. 

Braden Biggs, 29, is a first-term city council member in Apache junction who was elected in 2020, his first public office. He said he will move to Maricopa to pursue the Arizona house seat.  

“Effective March 1, 2022, I will be stepping down from the Apache Junction City Council, relocating to the City of Maricopa and running for the Arizona House of Representatives in the newly formed Legislative District 16,” Biggs said in a statement announcing his candidacy. 

“As the youngest councilmember ever elected in Apache Junction and one of the youngest elected in Pinal County, I know that it is time for the next generation of leaders to step up,” he added. “A run for higher office has been in my future plans, I am just moving up that timeline.” 

Local leaders applauded the fact that Maricopa voters will have options in the coming election. 

“I’m a believer that if people have a passion to serve our community politically, I’m willing to hear them out,” said Maricopa city council member Nancy Smith. “The more choices I have, the better. Serving in a political position is not easy, so I give kudos to him for putting himself out there for consideration. I’ve met him, and I know him to be a person whose heart is in the right place. I do need to do some research to better understand his platform.” 

Vice Mayor Vincent Manfredi echoed Smith’s sentiments. 

“I welcome anyone who wants to throw their hat in the ring for the legislative seats,” he said. “The more candidates and options we have to represent us here in Maricopa, the better off we are.” 

Biggs will be seeking one of two seats in LD 16, a reconfigured district created in the recently completed redistricting process. Two state representatives are elected from each district; one of those currently is held by Teresa Martinez, who was appointed to replace Bret Roberts, who resigned last year to move to South Carolina. 

T.J. Shope, currently the state senator from LD 8, will run as the incumbent in LD 16 after the reconfiguration of the districts.