PHOENIX (By
Matthew Benson and Mary Jo
Pitzl, Arizona Republic)
November 21, 2008 ― Gov. Janet Napolitano's appointment to
the incoming Obama administration would put a Republican at the
state's helm, potentially leading to harsher budget cuts and a
U-turn on state policy governing everything from gun
restrictions to abortion.
One thing is
certain: It would dramatically alter the Arizona political
landscape.
Napolitano's
departure, which could come in weeks, would place Republican
Secretary of State Jan Brewer, 64, in control of the Governor's
Office. It would be the first time since 2002 that the GOP has
controlled both the executive and legislative branches of state
government, giving the party its best opportunity in years to
enact a conservative agenda.
It also would mark
the first time in two decades that a mid-term gubernatorial
transition has shifted power from one party to the other. It
last happened in 1988 with Democrat Rose Mofford's ascendancy
following the impeachment of Republican Gov. Evan Mecham.
Napolitano's
much-reported selection as secretary of Homeland Security
remains unannounced. But it's already being cheered by GOP
legislators and inspiring dread among Democrats who would lose
their traditional backstop on the Executive Tower's Ninth Floor:
Napolitano.
In her first six
years in office, she shattered the state's veto record by
rejecting 180 bills.
Brewer, a former
county supervisor and state legislator, doesn't figure to be
nearly so prolific with the veto stamp in working with a
Republican-led Legislature.
Sen. Ken Cheuvront,
a Phoenix Democrat state senator believes, "It's going to be a
travesty. We will have no one to stop the extremist legislation
that inevitably will be put forward by the Republican majority."
Office remains
mum
Speculation on
Napolitano's departure ran wild at the Capitol on Thursday,
although her office was again mum. The governor didn't appear
for an afternoon closed-door meeting with Cabinet members,
according to multiple sources. Brewer hasn't been notified of
anything by Napolitano or her staff and issued a statement
declining to comment until she knows more.
She would serve
the remaining two years of Napolitano's term, inheriting a state
with a budget more than $1 billion out of balance, a flagging
economy and a host of tough choices in terms of spending cuts.
The change in
leadership could be most dramatic in how the state handles that
shortfall.
Napolitano has
blunted deep cuts with borrowing and fiscal maneuvers and has
pledged to protect education and state services for children and
vulnerable populations. Legislative Republicans have pushed for
deeper cuts that might bring more pain in the short term but
that they argue would be more fiscally responsible and
potentially spare the need for big cuts later on.
The incoming
leaders of the House and Senate said Brewer would offer the
prospect of smoother budget negotiations, if only because all
negotiators would be Republicans.
"Philosophically,
we'll be a lot more in parallel with her," said Sen. Bob Burns,
Senate president-elect.
With state
finances continuing to sour, Napolitano pet projects including
Science Foundation Arizona and all-day kindergarten may be in
jeopardy, some observers say.
The governor's
handling of social issues such as abortion also figures to
illustrate the philosophical shift from Napolitano to Brewer.
Napolitano has repeatedly vetoed attempts to limit abortion, and
some of those measures may be revived for Brewer.
"Her whole six
years of putting moderation in this state will in the next two
years be completely devastated," Cheuvront said, echoing raw
feelings that he said are common among his Democratic
colleagues. "If she truly cared about the state of Arizona, she
would stay."
But friends and
colleagues of Brewer say many of the concerns are overblown.
They characterize her as a principled conservative with a
pragmatic streak, and one whom they expect will find a far
easier relationship with the Legislature than Napolitano. Recent
legislative sessions have been typified by their contentiousness
and length, with the past two dragging until the end of the
fiscal year.
Pat Wright, who
served with Brewer during the early 1980s in the House and later
in the Senate, said Brewer "worked very well with people."
Brewer was majority whip in the Senate, meaning she was charged
with ensuring Republican votes for the GOP agenda. But Wright
said she never saw Brewer brandish the figurative whip, calling
her style "very easygoing."
Political ideology
aside, Arizona State University pollster Bruce Merrill said
Brewer's style "may be much more effective than Janet
(Napolitano) has been in terms of working with legislators and
reaching a budget deal."
"She's more like a
Jane Hull," Merrill added, "and understands working in small
groups and working with legislators."
Hull, a
Republican, was the last to take over the governorship of
Arizona mid-term when, in 1997, she replaced impeached GOP Gov.
Fife Symington.
Reached on
Thursday by The Arizona Republic, Hull called the news of
Napolitano's pending departure for the Obama administration
"somewhat expected." Brewer may have a longer period to ease
into the job than Hull had, she noted, and collaboration between
the incoming and outgoing staff will be key to a smooth
transition.
Regardless,
"Secretary Brewer has a big job in front of her," Hull said. "No
transition is easy."
Hull's advice:
"Put very good people around you, work closely with the
Legislature. This too will pass."
