Obama names governor to head homeland security

Gov. Janet Napolitano has answered President-elect Barack Obama’s call to service and will leave state government for Washington as Secretary of Homeland Security next January.

Democrat Napolitano is scheduled to be succeeded by Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer, a Republican. Arizona has no lieutenant governor to fill the void.

Policies may change and a closer relationship between the governor and the Legislature may occur, some political observers predict.

Napolitano is no stranger to Green Valley.

On Feb. 10, 2005, she toured the Titan Missile Museum here, as part of her plan to bring recognition to “Arizona’s Treasures,” some not-so-well recognized landmarks.

The museum staff gave her a special hard hat created just for the occasion. The white helmet bearing her name “Napolitano” in black letters is in a special exhibit there.

At that time Napolitano said everyone knows about the Grand Canyon, and added the state is also filled with other important Arizona treasures, and she was visiting one that day.

Napolitano was an early supporter of Obama, and she campaigned with him in New Mexico, her native state.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate who lost to Obama, praised Napolitano’s selection.

As governor in a conservative, Republican-leaning state, Napolitano clashed occasionally with the Legislature.

Napolitano has indicated she’ll continue governing Arizona until she’s confirmed by the Senate and sworn in.

She’s scheduled to give the annual “State of the State” address to the Arizona Legislature Jan. 12.

Gov.-designate Brewer had no immediate comment on the pending transitions.

Calls to her press secretary in Phoenix were backlogged earlier this week, said a Brewer receptionist.

Brewer has remained silent on the possible change ever since it was first speculated earlier this fall.

Like most of the states, Arizona is suffering from the nationwide recession, and Brewer will have to deal with that.

Napolitano was in Chicago Monday for Obama’s announcement.

“It is difficult to leave one job for another but one must go where she can best serve,” she said at the Chicago press conference.

According to an official statement from the Democratic Party headquarters in Phoenix, Napolitano said, “I believe that when called upon to serve — particularly at such a critical time in the history of our country — it is our duty to step forward and say ‘yes.’”

She listed some of the accomplishments of her office. “Over the past six years, we have accomplished a great deal together.

“We moved or state in a new direction strengthening our schools with voluntary full-day kindergarten, higher teacher pay and higher standards for our students.

“We expanded access to children’s health insurance and save Arizonans millions of dollars with one of the largest free prescription drug discount programs in the country.

“And we’re rebuilding Arizona’s economy with a focus on high-wage, high-tech jobs of the future.”

As a border governor, she’s been asked about how to deal with illegal immigration.

She’s not in favor of building border walls, joking that if you build a 50-foot high border wall, pretty soon there’ll be a market selling 51-foot ladders.

Napolitano, 51, previously served as U.S. attorney for Arizona, then won election as state attorney general before running for governor. She leaves for Washington with two years left on her term as governor.

Before she resigns as governor, the state Legislature may have already taken action to help deal with a projected $1.2 billion shortfall in the state’s $9.9 billion budget.

Brewer, 64, is a veteran public office holder, with more than two decades as a legislator, a Maricopa County supervisor and secretary of state.

Napolitano said Brewer “will need your support, and I pledge her mine.”

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749