Oppose SB1010: Renaming Loop 202 to Charlie Kirk Highway

I urge you to oppose SB1010, scheduled for the Senate Public Safety Committee hearing on Wednesday. This bill would rename Loop 202 to the "Charlie Kirk Highway," bypassing established naming procedures and disregarding the highway's existing commemorations. Arizona created the State Board on Geographic and Historic Names specifically to evaluate naming proposals through a deliberative process that considers historical significance and community input. This board has a policy requiring at least five years after a person's death before naming public infrastructure in their honor. This waiting period serves important purposes: it allows time for historical perspective, avoids immediate political controversy, and ensures that honorees represent values the state wants to permanently commemorate. SB1010, sponsored by Senator Warren Petersen, circumvents this board entirely and ignores the five-year rule. Parts of Loop 202 already carry significant names. A 23-mile stretch honors longtime Arizona Congressman Ed Pastor, who was instrumental in securing the federal funds that made the highway's construction possible. Renaming the entire loop erases this recognition of Pastor's concrete contributions to Arizona's infrastructure. Beyond procedural concerns, Kirk's public work was characterized by combative, incendiary, racist, and sexist behavior. While the circumstances of his death were tragic, they do not transform his public record into something worthy of permanent state commemoration. Highway names should honor individuals whose contributions and conduct reflect Arizona's values and whose legacy has been evaluated with appropriate historical distance. The legislature should respect the expertise and process of the State Board on Geographic and Historic Names rather than making ad hoc naming decisions that bypass established standards. I ask you to vote no on SB1010 in committee and preserve the integrity of Arizona's naming procedures.