Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox is officially a candidate for Congress. She has filed her campaign paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission.
Wilcox is running in Arizona’s Congressional District 7, which covers part of the Phoenix area. She wants to replace Democrat Ed Pastor who announced last month he will retire at the end of his term.
Wilcox has until May 28 to gather enough petition signatures to get her name on the ballot for the August primary.
After she resigns, the Board of Supervisors will select her successor. That person would have to run for a full term when Wilcox’s term ends in 2016.
Others in the Democratic primary race include state Sen. Steve Gallardo and state Rep. Ruben Gallego, who resigned from the Arizona House last week, reportedly to focus on his run for Congress.
Wilcox currently is serving her fifth four-year term on the county Board of Supervisors.