David Stringer
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = David Stringer
| image = David Stringer by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| state_house = Arizona
| district = 1st
| term_start = January 9, 2017
| term_end = March 27, 2019
| predecessor = Karen Fann
| successor = Steve Pierce
| birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|70|2018|6|27}}{{cite web|author=On Air 4:20AM |url=https://www.12news.com/article/news/david-stringer-dodges-apology-for-racially-insensitive-comments/75-568394597 |title=David Stringer dodges apology for racially insensitive comments |publisher=12news.com |date= |accessdate=2019-02-11}}
| birth_place = Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.{{cite web|url=http://votestringer.com/about/ |title=About David | David Stringer: Arizona Statehouse LD1 |publisher=Votestringer.com |date= |accessdate=2019-02-11}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = American
| party = Republican
| spouse =
| children =
| alma_mater =
| residence =
| profession = Politician
| religion =
| website =
}}
David Stringer is an American politician who was elected in 2016 to represent district 1 in the Arizona House of Representatives. After being reelected in 2018, he resigned in March 2019 after refusing to cooperate with an ethics investigation into 1983 charges against him for sexually molesting two boys. A member of the Republican Party, Stringer has been co-chair of the GOP finance committee for Yavapai County, in addition to a Republican precinct committeeman and state committeeman.
Education
Stringer is a graduate of George Washington University and the University of Baltimore School of Law. He earned an MA in curriculum and instruction from Arizona State University in 2018.{{cite news |last1=Resnik |first1=Brahm |title=AZ lawmaker David Stringer was cleared to teach before discovery of sex-related charges, records show |url=https://www.12news.com/article/news/politics/az-lawmaker-david-stringer-was-cleared-to-teach-before-discovery-of-sex-related-charges-records-show/75-17a99902-7699-4fc8-aaea-fc731555ab3b |work=KPNX |date=March 20, 2019}}
Career
Prior to running for state office, Stringer was elected as a Republican precinct committeeman and state committeeman for Yavapai County, and had been co-chair of the county's GOP finance committee.{{cite news |url=http://www.dcourier.com/news/2015/dec/15/stringer-joins-race-for-state-house/ |title=Stringer joins race for state House |newspaper=The Daily Courier |date=December 15, 2015 |accessdate=December 13, 2019}}
In 2016, Stringer and incumbent Noel W. Campbell won the two seats in the Republican primary for district 1 of the Arizona House of Representatives, defeating Yavapai County Supervisor Chip Davis.{{cite news |last1=Barks |first1=Cindy |last2=Tone |first2=Sue |title=Republicans Campbell, Stringer advance to General Election ballot in LD1 |url=https://www.dcourier.com/news/2018/aug/28/republicans-campbell-stringer-advance-general-elec/ |work=The Daily Courier |date=August 28, 2018}} They went on to defeat Democratic candidate Peter Pierson and Green candidate Haryaksha Gregor Knauer in the general election.{{cite web |url= https://www.azsos.gov/sites/azsos.gov/files/2016_1205_official_final_signed_state_canvass_for_2016_gen.pdf |title= State of Arizona Official Canvass 2016 General Election November 8, 2016 |publisher= Secretary of State of Arizona |location= Phoenix, Arizona |page= 15 |accessdate= December 9, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220203745/https://www.azsos.gov/sites/azsos.gov/files/2016_1205_official_final_signed_state_canvass_for_2016_gen.pdf |archive-date= 2016-12-20 |url-status= dead }}
=Allegations and resignation=
In early 2018, Stringer had been recorded as saying that sex trafficking was not a concern and that, "I don't like to demonize it."{{Cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/2019/04/03/arizona-report-david-stringer-made-disturbing-child-sex-comments/3357769002/|title=Report: David Stringer on child sex trafficking, 'I don't like to demonize it'|website=azcentral|language=en|access-date=2019-04-04}}
In June 2018, during a livestreamed speech at the Yavapai County Republican Men's Forum, Stringer commented that "there aren't enough white kids to go around", in reference to public school integration.{{cite news |url= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/arizona-lawmaker-rep-david-stringer-criticized-for-race-immigration-comments/ |title=GOP lawmaker David Stringer criticized for saying "there aren't enough white kids to go around"}}{{cite news |url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/06/14/arizona-rep-criticized-immigration/701678002/ |title=Arizona lawmaker: Immigrants represent 'threat' to U.S. due to lack of 'white kids'}} He went on to say that illegal immigration is "politically destabilizing" and is "an existential threat to the United States". Stringer's comments were derided as racist by the Anti-Defamation League and ProgressNow Arizona, while the Arizona Republican Party and denounced his comments. Stringer defended his statements by saying he "wasn't making a value judgement" and "wasn't denigrating anybody", while apologizing to anyone he offended.{{cite news |title=GOP lawmaker David Stringer criticized for saying "there aren't enough white kids to go around" |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/arizona-lawmaker-rep-david-stringer-criticized-for-race-immigration-comments/ |work=CBS News |date=June 14, 2018}}
In November 2018, Stringer was pressured to resign from leadership positions in House committees due to remarks made to Arizona State University students following a presentation at a political history and leadership club. Stringer stated that when European immigrants come to the United States that "After the second or third generation, everybody looks the same, everybody talks the same. But that's not the case with African Americans and other racial groups, because they don't melt in, they don't blend in."{{cite news |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2018/11/30/arizona-rep-david-stringer-facing-calls-step-down-said-african-americans-dont-blend/2166952002/ |title=Rep. David Stringer facing new calls to step down after saying African-Americans, others 'don't blend in'}} Stringer subsequently resigned from his position as chair of the House Sentencing and Recidivism Reform Committee.{{cite news |url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona-lawmaker-resigns-as-commission-chair-after-racist-comments-11057287 |title=State Rep. Stringer Gives Up Committee Chairmanship Following Racist Comments}} On December 4, the Prescott City Council voted six to one to pass a resolution "that demands Stringer step down immediately so that a replacement can be named before the legislative session begins in 2019", which was supported by the mayor.{{cite web|last=Wise|first=Justin|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/419733-arizona-city-council-calls-on-state-lawmaker-who-said-African|title=Arizona city council calls on legislator who said African-Americans 'don't blend in' to resign|work=The Hill|date=December 4, 2018|accessdate=December 4, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Gardiner |first1=Dustin |title=David Stringer controversy: Why did 67,023 Arizonans vote for him after racist comments? |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2018/12/12/david-stringer-controversy-why-did-arizonans-prescott-voters-elect-him/2230605002/ |work=The Arizona Republic |date=December 12, 2018 |language=en}} However, he ran to keep his seat and was reelected in the general election, coming in second after fellow incumbent Noel Campbell and defeating Democrats Jan Manolis and Ed Gogek.{{cite news |last1=Barks |first1=Cindy |title=Republican incumbents win new terms in Arizona Legislature |url=https://www.dcourier.com/news/2018/nov/06/republican-incumbents-win-new-terms-arizona-legisl/ |work=The Daily Courier |date=November 6, 2018 |language=en}}
On January 25, 2019, the Phoenix New Times reported that Stringer had been charged in 1983 with five sex offenses, including two child pornography charges, while he was living in Baltimore. He had accepted a plea bargain on charges of paying two boys for sex, one of whom was developmentally disabled, and was sentenced to five years' probation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/report-david-stringer-molested-children-including-disabled-teen-11261187|title=Police Report: David Stringer Molested Children, Including Disabled Teen|last=Lanahan|first=Steven Hsieh, Lawrence|date=2019-03-29|website=Phoenix New Times|access-date=2019-03-30}}{{cite news |last1=Kalmbacher |first1=Colin |title=Arizona Republican Allegedly Paid Two Boys $10 for Sex on Numerous Occasions |url=https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/arizona-republican-allegedly-paid-two-boys-10-for-sex-on-numerous-occasions/ |work=Law and Crime |date=March 30, 2019 |language=en}} In 1990, he had the charges expunged from his record. In response to calls for his resignation, Stringer confirmed that he had been arrested and charged with the offenses but stated that he would not be resigning from the Arizona House.{{cite web |last1=Hsieh |first1=Steve |title=Updated: State Rep. David Stringer Charged With Child Porn in 1983, Court Records Show |url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/court-records-arizona-lawmaker-david-stringer-charged-child-porn-1983-11183294 |website=phoenixnewtimes.com |publisher=Phoenix New Times |accessdate=January 25, 2019}} On March 27, 2019, facing a deadline to hand over documents regarding his 2018 comments and the 1983 sex offenses, he abruptly resigned from the Arizona House.{{Cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2019/03/29/rep-david-stringers-dirty-little-secret-stunner/3315816002/|title=Rep. David Stringer's dirty little secret is a stunner|website=azcentral|language=en|access-date=2019-03-30}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://ballotpedia.org/David_Stringer Biography] at Ballotpedia
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stringer, David}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Republican Party members of the Arizona House of Representatives
Category:George Washington University alumni
Category:University of Baltimore School of Law alumni
Category:Arizona State University alumni
Category:Arizona politicians convicted of crimes
Category:21st-century members of the Arizona State Legislature