Governor

The East Valley Tribune this morning has praised incoming Governor Jan Brewer for leaving all option on the table.

Sometimes, a sign of real leadership is saying exactly what the public doesn't want to hear. So it was a refreshing change last week when soon-to-be Gov. Jan Brewer didn't automatically rule out potential tax increases to help resolve the state's billion-dollar budget crisis.

Jan Brewer

The Arizona Democratic Party issued its first salvo against Jan Brewer Tuesday, putting out a press release that takes the current Arizona secretary of state and presumptive next governor to task for filling her transition team with lobbyists.

"In her first public move, future Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has thrown wide her doors to lobbyists," read the release in part.

The attack ends a long post-election stretch of relative silence from the state Democratic Party, which has been keeping a low profile after losing legislative seats on Nov. 4, despite a large money advantage over the Arizona Republican Party.

Janet Napolitano

Gov. Janet Napolitano issued a statement Saturday praising the economic recovery plan of Pres.-elect Barack Obama, the man who has tapped her to become the next secretary of homeland security.

In his weekly radio address, Obama proposed a sweeping program of government works projects that he said will create millions of jobs in his first term. The main components of what he unveiled were the modernization of schools and public buildings to make them more energy efficient, along with increased investment in roads, bridges and broadband Internet access. 

"Barack Obama has unveiled an economic recovery plan that will not only jump-start the economy, but will put Americans to work building the foundation of a greener, smarter, more connected future," read the statement from Napolitano.

Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer has taken her expected transition into the governor's office online, launching the website BrewerTransition.org Friday night to keep Arizonans up to date on the transfer of power.

Brewer announced the members of her transition team Friday, in anticipation that Gov. Janet Napolitano will be confirmed as President-elect Barack Obama's secretary of homeland security, which appears extremely likely. She followed up by unveiling BrewerTransition.org in the evening.

The press release announcing the site declared its intention to "keep you informed with the transition process and give you an opportunity to be part of it," reminiscient of the mandate behind the Change.gov site set up by Obama's transition organization.

Secretary of State Jan Brewer announced her incoming leadership team and has rewarded those who have made up her inner circle over the last six years.

Her new Chief of Staff will be Deputy Secretary of State Kevin Tyne and serving as the Director of Transition will be consultant-guru Charles Coughlin.

Full list below.

Not sure if this is supposed to be a complement of what?

"Janet's perfect for that job. Because for that job, you have to have no life. Janet has no family. Perfect. She can devote, literally, 19, 20 hours a day to it."

PA Gov. Ed Rendell, on AZ Gov./DHS Sec.-designate Janet Napolitano, Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/3.

One of the controversial parts about Governor Janet Napolitano's last budget was the photo-radars which she was hoping would help generate some revenue. It appears they are working. Reports this morning say more than 40,000 motorists have received a ticket since September. The cameras actually took over 166K pictures of speeders, but many did not have a good enough photo to actually mail out.

Getty Images Photo

Michael Chertoff

Department of Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff, who serves under a Republican president, is praising President-elect Barack Obama's pick to replace him: Gov. Janet Napolitano.

Chertoff released a statement Monday afternoon in support of Napolitano, who was officially nominated to become Obama's DHS head Monday morning. In it, Chertoff spoke glowingly of his likely successor.

"I have had the good fortune of knowing and working with Governor Janet Napolitano for years," read the statement, "going back to our days as prosecutors. She has a tremendous intellect and possesses the leadership and sound judgment needed to make the difficult decisions that this job presents.

Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen offered his congratulations to both Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, and Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer, the Republican who is set to be her replacement, in a statement Monday following Napolitano's nomination to head the Department of Homeland Security.

"One of the few areas where Governor Napolitano and I have agreed is that Washington has not done its job when it comes to securing our borders and protecting our nation,” said Pullen.  “Now the governor will get the opportunity to either fix a bad situation or become part of the problem.  I honestly wish her well.”

Maintaining the silence she's kept up since word first broke that Gov. Janet Napolitano is likely headed to Washington as President-elect Obama's Secretary of Homeland Security, Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer, still wasn't offering many clues Monday as to who might replace her as Secretary of State if she does ascend to the governorship.

"I have lots of people wanting the job," Brewer told reporters in her Executive Tower office. Though she only smiled when asked for specific names. 

Brewer appeared alongside Napolitano Monday afternoon, following the official announcement of Napolitano as Obama's nominee to the Homeland Security post. The two were ostensibly there to present Brewer's canvass of election results from Nov. 4, but the crush of cameras and reporters that filled the room were mainly interested in what the next two months may hold for Arizona's executive branch as Napolitano moves closer to Obama's Cabinet and Brewer looks set to take over the 9th Floor.