MHS grad, state legislator Pratt passes after long illness

Longtime Arizona Rep. Frank Pratt has died following a long illness. He was 79.

Pratt, a Maricopa High School graduate, originally represented Maricopa in the Legislature prior to districts being redrawn in 2000, which moved him to District 8 and placed Maricopa in District 11, where Republicans Mark Finchem and Bret Roberts represent the city in the House of Representatives.

Speaker of the House Rusty Bowers announced Pratt’s death, calling the Casa Grande Republican “an irreplaceable figure in the Arizona state Legislature.” Pratt was a farmer and rancher before forming a swimming pool construction business in 1986.

Pratt had served in state government since 2009, moving between the House and Senate. Pratt’s district includes parts of Pinal and Gila counties.

State Sen. Vince Leach said it was a pleasure dealing with Pratt because he was a straight shooter.

“When you went to Frank’s office and asked for a vote, what he told you was his word,” Leach said. “That’s all you can expect from a legislator or a good friend. If he told you ‘yes,’ he meant yes, and “no” meant no.

“I didn’t always agree with his decision, but he was as good as his word – he was solid. His leadership and knowledge were unmatched because he knew Arizona and what it is all about. He knew a lot of things about a lot of things, and he was a good and honorable man. The Legislature will miss him, and this part of Arizona will miss him.”

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey also lauded Pratt for his service.

“He did it all – public servant, business owner, rancher, farmer and family man,” Ducey said. “He was one of the good guys, and we’re lucky he called Arizona home. Representative Pratt was asked once why he went into politics. His answer was simple and straightforward: he said he was ‘just trying to make Arizona a better place.’”

According to the Associated Press, Pratt was in poor health for much of the 2021 session. He lost partial use of his right hand in January, and in February he was hit by a car, injuring his other arm. He spent much of the year voting from home via Zoom rather than coming to the Capitol. In late February, he had to be taken from the capitol to the hospital after not eating or drinking enough during a marathon floor session.

“Maricopa was a fun place to grow up,” Pratt told the audience during a 2011 event celebrating Maricopa’s history. He said and his friends could pick up musket balls at the old encampment behind ‘M’ Mountain, impromptu dances were held by headlights on the concrete slabs at the internment camp site, it took about “a minute to cruise through town,” and there were 65-70 students at the high school.

Similar to the situation with Roberts, who recently resigned his seat effective Sept. 30., Pratt’s successor will be named by the Pinal County Supervisors.