Governor Is Forced to Resign
Arizona Republican Convicted on 7 Felony Counts
By Todd S. Purdum
New York Times Service

PHOENIX, ArizonaA federal jury convicted Govemor Fife
Symington of Arizona on seven felony counts of defrauding his lenders
as a commercial real estate developer, forcing his resignation from
office and leaving him facing the prospect of prison and hundreds of
thousands of dollars in fines.

"I have never been one to linger, and I don't intend to start
now," a solernn but composed Mr. Symington told supporters in a
farewell announcement at the State Capitol about 90 minutes after the
verdict Wednesday. "My lot is to offer best wishes and full
support, to say thank you and move on."

The jury was deadlocked on 11 of the 21 counts over all, and
it acquitted Mr. Symington on three of the charges. But, under state
law, Mr. Symington, a Republican had to leave office if convicted on
even a single felony count.

Mr. Symington's lawyer said the 52yearold govemor's
resignation would take effect at 5 P.M. on Friday. Since the state has
no lieutenant governor, Jane Dee Hull the secretary of state and a
fellow Republican, will serve as govemor until the regular statewide
election next year.

After a 17week trial that involved  more than 1,400 pieces
of evidence assembled in a fiveyear investigation, the jury convicted
Mr. Symington, who took office in l991 and was once a rising star in
national Republican circles, of filing false financial statements in an
effort to shore up his crumbling real estate business in the late 1980s
and early '90s. Of the three counts on which Mr. Symington was
acquitted one of the most serious was that he used his power as
governor to threaten to steer state tenants away from a troubled
centercity development if the union pension fund that financed it listed
him in default.

Judge Roger Strand of the U.S. District Court he're declared a
mistrial on the 11 deadlocked counts, and prosecutors said they woutd
consider whether to seek a new trial on those counts.

In all, Mr. Symington faced 21 counts accusing him of Iying to
lenders about his true financial condition, of extorting the pension fund
and of perjuring himself in a bankruptcy hearing.

Mr. Symington was released on his own recognizance, with the
only requirement that he check in with the chief defense lawyer, John
Dowd, once a week. Thejudge set sentencing for Nov. 10.

It was the second time in a decade that an Arizona govemor
faced felony charges. Another Republican, Evan Mecham, was
eventually acquitted of accepting illegal campaign contributions, but
no,t before being impeached in '1988.

Mr. Symington was the third governor in the 1990s to be
forced from of fice because of a conviction.

L;ast year Governor Jim Guy Tucker of Arkansas, a Democrat,
resigned after his conviction on fraud and conspiracy charges in
Whitewaterrelated business dealings.

In 1993, Governor Guy Hunt of Alabama, a Republican, was
convicted and forced from of fice for looting his 1987 inaugural fund.