Biden appoints state Rep. Charlene Fernandez to Department of Agriculture post

President Joe Biden announced he will be appointing Tucson Democrat Rep. Charlene Fernandez to become the next State Director of Rural Development for Arizona for the Department of Agriculture Thursday. . 

On Twitter, Fernandez said she is choosing to continue to support communities by accepting the role, adding “I look forward to continuing to prioritize growth that benefits all Arizona residents.” 

Excited to join the US Dept of Agriculture as State Director of Rural Development. I’ll continue to advocate for the same communities and values in my new role. https://t.co/STd2Q8npBa

— Charlene Fernandez (@CharleneforAZ) November 4, 2021

Fernandez submitted her letter of resignation on Thursday, and will vacate her seat on Nov. 15. 

“Throughout my years of public service, I have advocated for our border communities, Native Nations, suburban neighborhoods, as well as the largest producers of lettuce across the world,” Fernandez wrote in her resignation letter. “I will continue serving those communities, with the same Democratic values, as I move on to a new chapter.”  

The Tucson Democrat worked alongside her Republican colleagues to work to pass the drought contingency plan, a point noted by the Biden administration.

She is also known for being a target of some of those same colleagues who have come after her for talking about their activities. Rep. Mark Finchem, R-Oro Valley, has been attempting to sue Fernandez for defamation because of statements she and other lawmakers made to the FBI over Finchem’s attendance at the January 6 insurrection.