PHOENIX (AP) — Jake Flake, a veteran state lawmaker and a reminder of the days when cowboys used to dominate the Arizona Legislature, died suddenly Sunday morning after a fall at his ranch in Snowflake, his family said. The lifelong Arizonan was 72.
The Republican senator had been recovering from eight cracked ribs he suffered May 24 after being bucked from his horse while riding on his ranch.
"He was doing well. He was alert and fine this morning, but as he was walking around the house, he fell down and he stopped breathing," said son Travis Flake, 35, of Snowflake. "His heart stopped and they were never able to get him going again ... It was a shock to all of us."
Travis Flake said doctors told the family they aren't sure what caused the death.
"They don't know," he said. "They think when he fell down, because his ribs were broken already, that may have done it right there. They're not totally sure."
Jake Flake served in the Arizona House from 1997 to 2004. He was speaker in 2003-2004, and was elected to the state Senate in 2005. He represented legislative District 5, which includes a wide swath of central-eastern Arizona and is the state's largest.
Flake was born and raised in Snowflake, a small eastern Arizona town named for Flake's great grandfather, who founded it. Flake and three of his brothers eventually bought the ranch they grew up on, running cattle throughout the Southwest and Mexico.
"He really fought for rural Arizona," said Republican Rep. Bill Konopnicki, who also represents District 5. "In some ways he was bigger than life itself. He was a rancher, he had been the speaker of the House, he was a legislator, he was a friend of counties, a friend of cities — he just did an awful lot of things and he'll be dearly missed."
A lifelong cowboy and patriarch of a large Mormon family, Flake was among the relatively few current lawmakers from outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas. He championed programs and interests of fellow ranchers and other rural residents on such matters as state trust land, economic development and highway funding.
Flake frequently noted that his legislative district included dozens of local governments, and often urged fellow lawmakers to show restraint when considering new mandates. He frequently used expressions from ranch life to explain complicated issues in plainspoken and often colorful terms.
"Jake was one of the last of the famed cowboy legislators," House Speaker Jim Weiers, R-Phoenix, said in a statement. "His country drawl, ranch-spun stories and devotion to a rural life so few of us in the Legislature know always made a conversation with Jake a learning experience. We will miss him and Arizona will miss his experience."
As speaker, Flake pushed a generally fiscal conservative line on state spending, but on at least one occasion found himself on the losing end when moderate Republicans teamed with minority Democrats to approve a budget over his objections.
On social issues, Flake was a reliable vote for fellow conservatives on abortion and school choice.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake, Jake Flake's nephew, said in a statement that he's lost a caring uncle and mentor.
"Words cannot express the sadness we all feel at the passing of Jake Flake," he said. "His family has lost a loving father, his church a devoted servant, his community a loyal advocate, and Arizona a great statesman."
The Navajo County Board of Supervisors will appoint a replacement to serve out the remaining months of Flake's two-year Senate term. It was not immediately known which of two methods specified under state law to provide the supervisors with three nominees to choose from would apply in this instance. However, state law requires that the replacement be a Republican because Flake was a Republican.
Until a replacement takes office, the vacancy created by Flake's death reduces the Senate's already thin majority in the 30-seat Senate to 16-13. With two GOP moderates disinclined to side with more conservative fellow Republicans on some issues, the vacancy could at least temporarily weaken the majority leadership's efforts to push their agenda on budget matters and other issues.
Also up in the air is what will happen with the seat in the November election. Flake was unopposed in his re-election bid, and the deadline to file nominating petitions to run in the September primary election was last week.
The district's second representative is Democrat Jack Brown of St. Johns, a former senator who changed chambers when barred by term limits from running again for the Senate seat that Flake then won.
Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, said in a statement that Flake "was a leader of great strength and wisdom, who worked with passion on behalf of the people of Arizona."
"Our hearts and prayers are with his family as they mourn his loss," she said.
Travis Flake said his father would want to be remembered for his love of family. "He loved his country and his state, but his greatest legacy was his family," he said as he cried.
Flake's daughter, Celeste Dana, 38, of Mesa, said her father got to spend a last good day with his family on Saturday, when one of his 55 grandchildren got married.
"He actually had a great day yesterday. He might have overdone it, which he's been known to do," Dana said. "He was up playing with his grandkids this morning ... I'm sure he's looking down at this gathering and wishing he could take part."
Jake Flake is survived by his wife of 48 years, Mary Louise Flake, 12 children, 55 grandchildren, and a newborn great grandchild.
Funeral arrangements are pending.