PHOENIX Secretary of State Jan Brewer is defending the makeup of her gubernatorial transition team despite its heavy reliance on lobbyists and executives from firms with special interests.
 Secretary of State Jan Brewer is taking some heat concerning the makeup of her gubernatorial transition team. Brewer would become governor once current Governor Janet Napolitano leaves for her impending federal post |
There also are some team members who are contract lobbyists, representing firms that hire them, like Chuck Coughlin and Doug Cole who both work for HighGround.
Brewer said, however, that doesn’t mean she is going to be unduly influenced by lobbyists.
“What I’ve done is I’ve tried to bring together people that have made great accomplishments and are leaders in getting things done,’’ Brewer said. “And I think that’s the kind of people I need to surround myself with.’’
Brewer said these people represent “the best of the best’’ in Arizona.
“And they were willing to come and help me,’’ she said, as there is no money in the state budget to pay for the help. Instead, they each are paid by the firms where they remain employed.
The governorinwaiting said she doubts she could have found many people who do not have some sort of bias.
“Everybody has a special interest in something,’’ Brewer said. “But I think the bottom line as we go through this transition is the people that I brought on board are there because they love the state of Arizona, they want to do the best for the state of Arizona.’’
She said they want to make the transition from Napolitano “as seamless as possible.’’
Brewer also aid she still has not decided whether any of the people on the team will be eligible for fulltime posts in her administration when she finally takes over as governor.
“We’re accepting all kinds of resumes and input from people throughout the community,’’ she said, including input from individuals who log on to her transition web site.
“I think maybe next week information will start coming up to me about who’s applied and who’s good at what, what their thoughts are,’’ Brewer said. “I will review all that and then we’ll start moving forward.’’
Brewer’s comments came after she presided over the voting of the state’s 10 Republicans who were chosen by voters last month as presidential electors.
Technically speaking, Arizona voters did not vote for John McCain over Republican Barack Obama but instead voted to choose 10 electors who pledged to vote for McCain. The actual presidential “election’’ in Arizona occurred Monday when those electors met in Phoenix and cast their ballots for the state’s senior senator.
Brewer, as the state’s chief elections officer, presided over that vote.
Just The Facts
Transition team:
Bas Aja, lobbyist, Arizona Cattlemen’s Association
Lisa Atkins, lobbyist, Greater Phoenix Leadership, a group of 105 companies which lobby on issues at the Capitol
Richard Bark, an attorney whose clients include the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Linda Blessing, former executive director of Arizona Board of Regents and former director of state Department of Economic Security
Drew Brown, chief executive of DMB Associates, a real estate development firm
Ernie Calderon, attorney and member Arizona Board of Regents
Douglas Cole, partner and lobbyist for HighGround whose clients include Tucson Greyhound Park
Charles Coughlin, partner and lobbyist for Highground
Lori Daniels, former state lawmaker and current business owner
Lisa Hauser, attorney
Jay Heiler, lobbyist whose clients include Redflex and Arizona Public Service
Eileen Klein, vice president of United Healthcare
Andy Kunasek, Maricopa County supervisor
Dan Lewis, senior vice president of Bank of America
Cheryl Lombard, lobbyist for Nature Conservancy
Alan Maguire, economist
Tom Manson, Maricopa County chief financial officer
Brian McNeil, executive director of Arizona Corporation Commission
Jim Pignatelli, chief executive of UniSource Energy Corp., parent company of Tucson Electric Power
Bill Post, chief executive of Pinnacle West, parent company of Arizona Public Service
Richard Silverman, general manager of Salt River Project
Kevin Tyne, deputy secretary of state
Paulina VazquezMorris, attorney, former member of the Maricopa County Special Healthcare District
Bob Walkup, Tucson mayor
Connie Wilhelm, executive director of Home Builders Association of Central Arizona
Ted Williams, president of Arizona Behavioral Health Corp. which provides housing for disabled, also lobbyist for Eli Lilly & Co.
Steve Zabilski, executive director, St. Vincent de Paul charity
Source: Brewer transition office, Secretary of State lobbyist records.
Comments