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Gov. Janet Napolitano is homeland security secretary
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
President-elect Barack Obama made it official Monday, naming Gov. Janet Napolitano homeland security secretary. Napolitano was among some big names selected to Obama's cabinet in a press conference.
Others named were Senator Hillary Clinton, who will take over as secretary of state in January when Obama is sworn in. Susan Rice was named ambassador to the United Nations and Robert Gates will stay on as defense secretary.
"I am confident that this team is what we need to make a new beginning for American national security," Obama said.
Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords said Obama could not have picked a better secretary of homeland security.
"As governor over the past six years, she has had to deal with some of the most difficult issues confronting the second-fastest growing state in the nation," Giffords said. "First and foremost among these has been border security and illegal immigration. She knows the seriousness of this problem. She has a keen, first-had understanding of the tremendous toll it is taking on our communities, our schools and our hospitals. Her experience will certainly serve the American people well."
Napolitano, a Democrat in her second four-year term as governor, is leaving the state two years before she will term out of office and as Arizona faces some major budget constraints this year and in the coming year.
While Republicans are happy about Napolitano's exit, Democrat Manny Alvarez said he was hoping she would stick around for a few more years. Alvarez is a senator-elect for District 25.
"I would really prefer she stay and we take care of a lot of these problems," Alvarez said. "We are in this position in this state because of the Republicans. We all need to work together and do the job we are elected to do. We need to go up there and just serve the people."
Disagreeing with Alvarez, District 30 Senator Jonathan Paton, and Frank Antenori of the House of Representatives, District 30, said a Republican-led legislature might get Arizona back on track.
Antenori, who will officially be sworn into office in January, said he's not surprised that after the Democrats and Napolitano created one of the state's worst budget crises in years, she is leaving.
The state faces a $1.2-billion budget deficit this year, and is looking at an even bigger shortfall next year.
With Napolitano leaving, Secretary of State Janet Brewer would take over the state's top position. Brewer is a Republican.
Paton said with a new person taking over for Napolitano a lot of changes may be in store for the state.
"The situation is very difficult; the governor won't be leaving until the end of January and there is already some confusion with the transition process," Paton said. "There is going to be a lot of new leadership in the state, and we don't exactly know how all of this will shake out."
No date has been set for Napolitano to leave office. Obama will be sworn in on Jan. 20
President-elect Barack Obama made it official Monday, naming Gov. Janet Napolitano homeland security secretary. Napolitano was among some big names selected to Obama's cabinet in a press conference.
Others named were Senator Hillary Clinton, who will take over as secretary of state in January when Obama is sworn in. Susan Rice was named ambassador to the United Nations and Robert Gates will stay on as defense secretary.
"I am confident that this team is what we need to make a new beginning for American national security," Obama said.
Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords said Obama could not have picked a better secretary of homeland security.
"As governor over the past six years, she has had to deal with some of the most difficult issues confronting the second-fastest growing state in the nation," Giffords said. "First and foremost among these has been border security and illegal immigration. She knows the seriousness of this problem. She has a keen, first-had understanding of the tremendous toll it is taking on our communities, our schools and our hospitals. Her experience will certainly serve the American people well."
Napolitano, a Democrat in her second four-year term as governor, is leaving the state two years before she will term out of office and as Arizona faces some major budget constraints this year and in the coming year.
While Republicans are happy about Napolitano's exit, Democrat Manny Alvarez said he was hoping she would stick around for a few more years. Alvarez is a senator-elect for District 25.
"I would really prefer she stay and we take care of a lot of these problems," Alvarez said. "We are in this position in this state because of the Republicans. We all need to work together and do the job we are elected to do. We need to go up there and just serve the people."
Disagreeing with Alvarez, District 30 Senator Jonathan Paton, and Frank Antenori of the House of Representatives, District 30, said a Republican-led legislature might get Arizona back on track.
Antenori, who will officially be sworn into office in January, said he's not surprised that after the Democrats and Napolitano created one of the state's worst budget crises in years, she is leaving.
The state faces a $1.2-billion budget deficit this year, and is looking at an even bigger shortfall next year.
With Napolitano leaving, Secretary of State Janet Brewer would take over the state's top position. Brewer is a Republican.
Paton said with a new person taking over for Napolitano a lot of changes may be in store for the state.
"The situation is very difficult; the governor won't be leaving until the end of January and there is already some confusion with the transition process," Paton said. "There is going to be a lot of new leadership in the state, and we don't exactly know how all of this will shake out."
No date has been set for Napolitano to leave office. Obama will be sworn in on Jan. 20
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