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Jan Brewer (R)

Governor of Arizona (since January 2009)

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(arizona.gov)

Why She Matters

When Brewer replaced then-Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-Ariz.) in January 2009, filling the shoes of the now-Homeland Security secretary, she turned Arizona red again.

Not that the state didn't boast any Republican officials - after all, Sen. John McCain (R) hails from Arizona - but with a Democratic governor, the Republican-controlled legislature struggled to find common ground.With Brewer, a conservative, in Arizona's top post, many of the bills Napolitano vetoed, including ones dealing with anti-abortion issues, gun rights and school choice, may find new life.

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Article

Arizona official ends inquiry into Obama’s birth record after Hawaii sends verification

(Ross D. Franklin, File / Associated Press)

PHOENIX — Arizona’s secretary of state said Wednesday that Hawaii’s official verification of President Barack Obama’s birth records meets necessary requirements, meaning the president’s name will appear on Arizona’s ballot in the fall.

Article

Arizona official ends inquiry into Obama’s birth record after Hawaii sends verification

(Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press)

PHOENIX — Arizona’s secretary of state said Wednesday that Hawaii’s official verification of President Barack Obama’s birth records meets necessary requirements, meaning the president’s name will appear on Arizona’s ballot in the fall.

PostScript: New birther conspiracies born from an editorial

Readers ask what The Post is really up to.

Article

Arizona gov. vetoes bill that demanded state get control of millions of acres of federal land

PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed legislation Monday that would have had the state join Utah in demanding that the federal government surrender control of millions of acres of public land.

Article

D.C. Council derails furlough repayment plan

Members rejected a $22M deal that had been worked out by Mayor Gray and Chairman Brown.

Photos

Charles Taylor verdict, Arizona v. U.S., meteorite chunk found and more in the day in photos

(Martin Meissner / AP)

Charles Taylor verdict, Arizona v. U.S., meteorite chunk found and more.

View photos

 
 

At a Glance

  • Career History: Arizona Secretary of State (2002-2009), Maricopa County Supervisor (1996-2002), Arizona State Senator (1987-1996)
  • Birthday: Sept 26, 1944
  • Hometown: Hollywood, Calif.
  • Alma Mater: Valley College, medical assistant certificate, practical radiological techician certificate, 1963, Valley College, Burbank, Calif.; HHD (hon.), LA Chiropractic College, 1970
  • Spouse: Dr. John Brewer
  • Religion: Lutheran
  • Office: 1700 West WashingtonPhoenix, Arizona 85007
  • Website
 

Path to Power

Brewer was born in Hollywood, Calif. Her father, Perry Drinkwine, was a civilian supervisor at a Navy munitions depot in Hawthorne, Nev., and she spent the first ten years of her life at the base.

When she was 11, her father's health-ravaged by the constant exposure to the chemicals on the base-forced the family to move to California for dry desert air and clean ocean breezes. Drinkwine survived just a year before succumbing to lung disease. That experience prompted Brewer to study to become a radiology technician.

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The Issues

Ironically, one of Brewer's trademark issues during her legislative years was her attempts to create a lieutenant governor position for Arizona. Arizona is one of six states that have no lieutenant governor position.

Brewer argued that being secretary of state does not make a candidate qualified for governor, and that if a governor leaves mid-term, s/he should be replaced by a member of the same party. Brewer introduced a measure to create an LG post so frequently, a former Senate colleague told the Arizona Capitol Times, that lawmakers simply started referring to it as "Jan's bill."

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The Network

At the start of her gubernatorial tenure, Brewer was accused of not reaching out to the legislative branch of government. Hours before the state Senate revealed its 2009-2010 budget, Brewer said she and her staff had not seen it.

The governor supported home state Sen. John McCain (R) in the 2008 presidential election, leading the Arizona GOP delegation that nominated the senator for president.

 

Additional Resources

  1. Bodfield, Rhonda. "How to improve the voting process," Arizona Daily Star (Tucson), October 8, 2002
  2. Benson, Matthew, "Brewer a bit of a surprise," The Arizona Republic (Phoenix), May 1, 2009
  3. Scarpinato, Daniel, "Brewer takes office with stimulus vow," The Arizona Daily Star (Tucson), January 22, 2009
  4. Craig Harris, Alia Beard Rau and Glen Creno, "Arizona governor signs immigration law; foes promise fight," April 24, 2010
  5. Benson, Matthew. "Likely Ariz. Governor seen as competent, partisan," The Arizona Republic (Phoenix), Dec. 14, 2008
  6. Revere, C.T., "ELECTION 2002: SECRETARY OF STATE" Tucson Citizen, August 16, 2002
  7. Bodfield, Rhonda and Corella, Hipolito. "Cummiskey makes abortion an issue," Arizona Daily Star (Tucson), October 30, 2002
  8. Duda, Jeremy, and Palmer, Christian, "Arizona Republicans optimistic about incoming Brewer administration." Arizona Capitol Times, December 5, 2008
  9. Berry, Jahna. "Incumbent Brewer Dwells on Experience and Results," The Arizona Republic (Phoenix), October 3, 2006
  10. Pitzl, Mary Jo. "Spotlight Swings to Brewer," The Arizona Republic (Phoenix), November 23, 2008
  11. Benson, Matthew. "Brewer in 1994: Secretary of state is unfit to govern," The Arizona Republic (Phoenix), November 30, 2008
  12. Text of Senate Bill 1070, Arizona Legislature
  13. Diaz, Elvia. "SLIM MARGINS MAKE RACES TOO CLOSE TO CALL," The Arizona Republic (Phoenix), November 6, 2002
  14. Duda, Jeremy, "Longtime Brewer priorities reflected in budget adjustments," Arizona Capitol Times, February 6, 2009
  15. Inaugural Address
  16. Scutari, Chip. "20,000 Votes And Counting," The Arizona Republic (Phoenix), November 8, 2002
  17. Pitzl, Mary Jo. "Spotlight Swings to Brewer," The Arizona Republic (Phoenix), November 23, 2008
  18. Jan Brewer's FY10 Budget
  19. MacEachern, Doug, "Snapshots of the next governor," The Arizona Republic (Phoenix), December 7, 2008