This is a developing story and will be updated.
Pima County's longest-serving county supervisor is resigning at the end of November. Democrat Sharon Bronson says she is recuperating after fracturing three ribs in a fall at her home last week.
Bronson was first elected to the board in 1996, creating a 3-2 Democratic majority. She is the first first woman to serve as chair of the board.
Bronson was elected chair multiple times, most recently in 2021, leading the twice-monthly meetings until earlier this year, when fellow Democrat Adelita Grijalva challenged Bronson for the chairmanship and won a 3-2 vote.
Bronson's biography on the Pima County web site also states, "She currently serves on the Chairman’s Circle for Sun Corridor Inc. She is a board member of Visit Tucson and serves as the Pima County representative to the Arizona Border Counties Coalition."
Her resignation letter, released Monday morning, says her fall was a result of being "ambushed by one of my favorite cats." She added that before her injury, she had been considering running for another term.
Board chair Grijalva issued a statement that said in part, "As the first Latina elected to serve on the Board in 2020, I was proud to share leadership with a fellow Democratic woman as Vice Chair in 2021-2022 with then-Chair Bronson. Her impact on our community is long-lasting, as a strong advocate for the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan and for Pima Animal Care Center."
Supervisor Rex Scott also released a statement praising Bronson's service, and adding, "Sharon has served Pima County with distinction and pride. She was the first woman in our history to serve as Board chair. All of us are grateful for and can learn from her selflessness and commitment to service."
Bronson officially leaves the board on November 27.
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