With Gov. Janet Napolitano all but a forgone conclusion to be the next Secretary of Homeland Security, Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer stands to continue a strong female force in the high offices of state government.
Brewer would be the fourth female governor of Arizona and the second back-to-back woman governor in a state rich with the female influence, said Gina Woodall, political science lecturer.
“Arizona traditionally has supported women in public office,” Woodall said. “Although we are not known as a progressive state in the traditional sense of the word, given our individualist streak, we have become sort of pioneers in supporting women at both the state and federal level.”
Women’s hold in Arizona politics bodes well for the next generation of females wanting to affect change, said sophomore Erica Pederson, communications director for the ASU Young Democrats. Three out of the four elected Young Democrats are female, said Pederson, a political science and philosophy major.
“I heard that in past years the club used to be dominated by guys,” Pederson said. “It’s a sign that more women are getting involved in politics.”
Woodall said Arizona is the only state to have had three female governors: Rose Mofford, Jane Hull and Napolitano. It is also the only state to have women fill the governorship back-to-back, with Hull to Napolitano. Brewer could be the fourth female governor of Arizona.
“I think it’s terrific to have descriptive representation of women in executive office in our state,” Woodall said. “If we someday want to see a woman president — and the vast majority of people say they would elect a female president, if qualified — it’s very important that women ‘fill the pipeline’ by gaining executive leadership experience by governing states.”
Arizona state history was also made in 1998 when five women were elected to the top positions of governor, attorney general, state treasurer, secretary of state and superintendent of public instruction. The women were dubbed the "Fab Five."
At the time, Brewer was serving on the Maricopa Board of Supervisors. Four years earlier she fought to get a measure on the ballot that would have created the position of lieutenant governor, the second-highest elected official below governor. Voters defeated the measure, leaving the position of Secretary of State to fill the office of governor, thus leaving Brewer in the position she is in today.
“[Even though] I think Janet’s appointment is a forgone conclusion; it’s appropriate that the governor not say anything,” said Wes Gullett, former deputy campaign manager for Sen. John McCain’s 2000 presidential campaign. “She’ll probably be confirmed quickly. Then we’ll have [a] new governor in Arizona before the 1st of February.”
He said the office should see some fairly dramatic changes because Brewer has a more conservative philosophy than Napolitano, who tends to problem solve through the lens of a lawyer. Brewer, who has a business background, is likely to fix problems from a business perspective, said Gullett, who was former Gov. Fife Symington’s chief of staff.
“Arizona is an entrepreneurial place,” Gullett said. “The free market needs to be encouraged to get us out of our economic doldrums.”
Pederson said that with a Republican majority in the House and Senate, Napolitano’s veto power was crucial.
“If she leaves, so does her veto power,” Pederson said. “It’s only two years, but a good amount of legislation could be passed and programs could be cut.”
Brewer has more than 25 years of experience in politics. She served as an Arizona state senator from 1987 to 1996, when ASU law student and blogger Greg Patterson was serving in the House.
Although Brewer understands the legislative process and will be able to work with legislatures, Patterson said, on the budget front, things aren’t likely to change if she ends up taking office.
“Napolitano’s team didn’t understand how the Legislature works, which is why bills didn’t get through the Legislature and she ended up vetoing so many bills that reached her desk,” Patterson said. “The state is out of money and out of gimmicks. The only thing left is to cut programs.”
Reach the reporter at philip.haldiman@asu.edu.
