Ariz. legislator's opponents file recall petition over immigration bill

PHOENIX - Critics of an Arizona legislator who sponsored the state's controversial immigration law have filed petitions to force a recall election for the Mesa Republican. <br /> <br /> The requirement to do so is 7,756 voter signatures from Senate President Russell Pearce's legislative district. <br /> <br /> Recall proponents say they filed petitions bearing 18,315 signatures Tuesday. But they acknowledge thousands of those might be duplicates or signatures of people who live outside Pearce's district. <br /> <br /> Officials say it could take until August to determine whether the petitions meet requirements. <br /> <br /> Pearce is best known for sponsoring immigration measures including the 2010 enforcement law known as SB1070. A judge has placed key provisions of that measure on hold while they're challenged in court. <br /> <br /> Pearce received some unwelcome attention in April when a Fiesta Bowl report showed he accepted numerous free trips to college football games in other states. He has denied any wrongdoing. <br />