Napolitano appointed homeland security director

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano accepted the job of homeland security director Monday, telling President-elect Barack Obama, "I am honored by your confidence in me and your support."

Napolitano attended a Chicago news conference at which Obama announced her appointment and four others to his cabinet. Among them was New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, named secretary of state.

Napolitano echoed one of Clinton's points as she accepted the nomination, saying, "I would be remiss if I did not also thank the wonderful people of Arizona. Like Hillary, it is difficult to leave one job for another, but one must go where one can best serve."

The governor told Obama, "We are a nation that will be proud, prepared and resilient. Thank you for the opportunity to serve."

Napolitano's departure from Arizona means Republicans will soon have control of state government. Republican Secretary of State Jan Brewer will move up to the governor's office, giving the GOP control of the executive office and both houses of the Legislature.

Napolitano will not leave immediately. The confirmation process will last at least into January, and new cabinet members will not take office until after the Jan. 20 inauguration.

In a statement released by her office, Napolitano said her decision was not an easy one and that she will continue to serve Arizona until she is confirmed for the federal post.

"I intend to carry forward with my most important responsibiities as the leader of this state," she said. "In just a few weeks, I will deliver my State of the State address, and shortly thereafter, I will present to the Arizona Legislature a balanced budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2010."

That idea did not impress the incoming speaker of the Arizona House, Mesa Republican Kirk Adams.

"That's not the governor we're going to be dealing with," Adams said. "The governor we need to pay attention to is the governor-to-be, Governor Brewer. That's the one who's going to have to eventually sign or veto anything that we send up to her."

Adams said he believes Napolitano should leave as soon as possible after Obama takes office.

"Should she choose to stay longer, until her confirmation, it really does put us in a very awkward, unique position," said Adams. "I can't recall that Arizona's ever quite had a situation like that before."

Napolitano said she will resign as governor once she is confirmed for the cabinet post.

"Secretary of State Jan Brewer will take over the challenging job as Arizona's governor during this difficult time, without having sought this office," Napolitano said. "She will need your support and I pledge her mine."

The governor said she will ask some members of her staff to help with the transition in Arizona.

Her statement added, "To the people of Arizona, I say, 'thank you.' You entrusted me to run this state to the best of my ability, and I have tried with all my being to do so. I will continue to work for Arizona and Arizonans, but from a different place and with a different charge."

State Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, believes, with a Republican governor, the GOP-controlled Legislature will have more cooperation in solving a projected billion-dollar deficit in the current fiscal year's budget.

"We had a lot of bills being vetoed, and I think there was an overuse of the veto by the current governor," Kavanagh said. "I don't think you'll see that now. And, because she (Brewer) is a Republican and the Legislature is, in both houses, majority Republican, I think you'll see a Republican agenda of more fiscal responsibility."

Rep. Kirsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, said it is true that Napolitano vetoed a record number of bills, but there was a reason for it.

"For example, there was one bill that was about animal eco-terrorism and the governor vetoed it a couple of times until the Legislature made appropriate adjustments and then she signed it a third time. So those were a couple of vetoes that I think probably don't count because she ended up signing it into law at the end."

Rep. David Lujan, D-Phoenix, said Napolitano leaves behind a tremendous legacy as governor, especially in the area of education.

"In terms of all-day kindergarten, increasing teachers' salaries, early childhood education," Lujan said. "She's been a real leader on those issues and so the area of education is sorely going to miss her."

He added he believes she will do well in the cabinet.

"It's a great opportunity for the governor, for the country. As the governor of a border state, she knows the issues of immigration very well, and I think she's going to do an excellent job in that position."

Napolitano, 51, was elected governor in 2002 and re-elected in 2006. The day after Obama won the Nov. 4 election, she was named to his transition advisory board. She was an early supporter of Obama and campaigned across the country for him.

She spoke glowingly of her soon-to-be boss on election night.

"He's such a great leader, and I think the more people saw him over the course of the campaign, the more they liked him," she said.

Napolitano is a native of New York City, a graduate of Santa Clara University in California and the University of Virginia School of Law.

Her political career began in 1993 when President Bill Clinton appointed her as U.S. Attorney for Arizona. She was elected Arizona Attorney General in 1998.

In 1991, Napolitano, then with the Phoenix law firm of Lewis and Roca, served as attorney for Anita Hill, who testified before the U.S. Senate that Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas had sexually harassed her while he was her boss at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. As U.S. attorney, Napolitano was involved in the investigation of Michael Fortier of Kingman, and his involvement in the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City.

When Napolitano's name surfaced as the choice for homeland security director last week, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who was defeated by Obama, called the Democratic governor to congratulate her and pledge his support during her confirmation hearings. McCain called her "highly qualified" for the cabinet post.