By a unanimous vote during their weekly meeting, the Pima County Board of Supervisors named Paula Aboud (r) to the vacant District 28 State Senate seat for the remainder of the term. Aboud succeeds Gabrielle Giffords, who resigned to run for the Democratic nomination for the open U.S. House seat for Congressional District 8.

"I'm very honored by the Supervisors and District 28," Aboud is quoted as saying after the vote by the Supervisors, required by Arizona law when a state legislative seat opens up. "I look forward to standing up for the rights of the people of Arizona."

Aboud was one of three individuals named for consideration by the Legislative District 28 Democratic Precinct Committeemembers, by state law, had met to forward three names to the Board of Supervisors for consideration. State Representatives Ted Downing and David Bradley were the other two names forwarded to the Board.

Prior to her selection, Aboud had run previously for the Tucson City Council. She is one of the cofounders of the Ward 3 Neighbors, past president of the Democrats of Greater Tucson and is one of the founders of the Southern Arizona Stonewall Democrats.

Arizona’s Legislature will go into session Monday, Jan. 9. Aboud will serve the remainder of the term in office and will be up for election this year. With Aboud’s appointment, Arizona will have three openly Gay and Lesbian individuals serving in the Arizona State Legislature, she will join Ken Cheuvront, D-Phoenix in the Senate and Robert Meza, D-Phoenix currently sits in the Arizona House.