Mary Peters

A spokesman for U.S. Transportation Sec. Mary Peters told PolitickerAZ.com that Peters is not currently thinking about staying at her post under a John McCain administration, nor about a gubernatorial run, as reported in CQPolitics.com:

There is growing speculation McCain would ask his fellow Arizonan to stay on at least through the first half of next year, after which she wants to return to Phoenix to start her 2010 campaign for governor. In the Cabinet only two years, she appears to want more time to push her ideas, which include replacing the federal gasoline tax with a tax on drivers based either on how far they go or when they’re on the road.

Peters, who is the former director of the Arizona Department of Transportation, considered a run for Arizona governor in 2006, and is rumored to be taking a look at throwing her hat in the ring in 2010.  

However, Brian Turmail, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Transportation, said of CQPolitics.com report, "you can put that up to a speculative piece."

Ariz. Attorney General Terry GoddardArizona small business owners overwhelmingly favor a Democrat to replace Gov. Janet Napolitano, according to the Silver State Bank/Arizona Small Business Association/O'Neil Associates Arizona Economic Indicators Monitor.

The poll, conducted among the ASBA's 3,000 members, found that 43 percent of respondents supported Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard in the hypothetical race. Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon came in second with 21 percent.

Rounding out the list were U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters (10 percent), Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman (8 percent), Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne (8 percent), state Treasurer Dean Martin (7 percent) and Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas (5 percent).

If Barack Obama were to beat John McCain, there is a very good chance Governor Janet Napolitano could be offered a job in the administration.  While it is very unlikely she would be offered the VEEP spot, there is a strong possibility her early loyalty would be rewarded with a cabinet position.

If Napolitano were to move on to Washington, Arizona’s political landscape would be tossed on its head overnight.  Look into the Inside Edge crystal ball as we predict what that week’s Winners and Losers would look like.  

If Barack Obama were to beat John McCain, there is a very good chance Governor Janet Napolitano could be offered a job in the administration.  While it is very unlikely she would be offered the VEEP spot, there is a strong possibility her early loyalty would be rewarded with a cabinet position.

If Napolitano were to move on to Washington, Arizona’s political landscape would be tossed on its head overnight.  Look into the Inside Edge crystal ball as we predict what that week’s Winners and Losers would look like.  

Winners

Jan Brewer
Not only would the secretary of state become Governor Jan Brewer overnight, she would then be in office as a sitting incumbent come 2010.

Dennis Burke
The governor’s Chief of Staff would almost certainly end up as the Chief of Staff to the U.S. Attorney General or Department of Homeland Security and would be on his way to D.C. 

Leezie Kim
Kim, who recently moved from private practice to become the governor’s general counsel, would be on a short list for a U.S. Attorney spot.

Pro-life movement
With Napolitano out of the way the pro-life community could start moving legislation forward with hope of it being signed by the governor. 

State Republican Party
If the party holds both the Senate and the House in November, the party would have total control over state government and could use it to their advantage in fundraising. 

Losers

Gubernatorial hopefuls on the Republican side
Mary Peters, Andrew Thomas and any other prospective candidates would now be facing an incumbent from their own party.  While someone may still step up to the plate and challenge Brewer, their job becomes a whole lot harder.

Randy Pullen
With Brewer in charge and gearing up for re-election she would more than likely want someone she trusts completely running the office that will be out to protect her and prevent a primary.

Terry Goddard
The Attorney General would become the highest elected Democratic official in the state, but assuming he is the nominee in 2010 he now has to challenge a sitting governor.  He would be trying to do something that hasn’t been done since 1966, unseat a sitting governor in an election.  And it should be noted that governor who lost re-election was Samuel Goddard, Terry’s father.

LGBT community
They lose the strongest advocate they have had in Arizona and would likely be facing a rollback of Napolitano’s executive order banning discrimination in state government based on sexual orientation.

Jim Weiers
It may seem weird to place a Republican Speaker of the House as a loser when a Republican takes over the governor’s office, but it’s true.  Right now Weiers gains his power as the leader of the opposition party.  With a Republican governor Weiers would lose that power and for the most part would need to follow the governor’s lead.

More Inside Edge

• Mary Peters - The Secretary of Transportation has resolved to come home to AZ and be more active in Republican events and campaigns. We are sure her resolution has nothing to do with a desire to run for Governor.

• John McCain - I resolve to the Republican activists in this state that if I lose the Republican nomination for President I will not seek another term as your US Senator, but only if you agree to support me in the February 5th primary so I am not embarrassed and lose my home state.

• Senate President Tim Bee - I resolve that I will finally decide to be a candidate for Congress and challenge freshman Congresswomen Gabrielle Giffords. Everyone got on me for taking so long, but I'm a busy man. All I needed was the week off between Christmas and New Year's to consider my options. It had nothing to do with the resign to run law.