Governor Jan Brewer’s Departure

By: Genesis Monserrate

Governor Jan Brewer’s announcement March 12 that she would not run for another term sets the stage for a robust Republican primary to replace her.

Brewer’s administration has generated criticism and support from both sides of the political spectrum and from both Democrats and Republicans.  

She signed SB 1070 in 2012, which allowed state officials to enforce immigration laws, angering Latinos and Democrats,  and most recently, she vetoed SB 1062, which would have allowed private businesses to refuse service to gay customers based on religious beliefs, bringing complaints from the right.

She also pushed through a sales tax hike to get Arizona through the recession and embraced expanding Medicaid, both of which most Republican politicians opposed, and she signed bills making abortions harder to get, drawing complaints from the left.

Only one Democrat has announced to run for governor: Fred DuVal, a former aide to ex-Gov. Bruce Babbitt. But the Republican primary is loaded with candidates.

They include Secretary of State Ken Bennett; State Treasurer Doug Ducey, the former CEO of Cold Stone Creamery; Mesa Mayor Scott Smith; State Sen. Al Melvin; Christine Jones, a former executive with Go Daddy; former California Congressman Frank Riggs; former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas; and John Molina, former CEO of Phoenix Indian Medical Center. Ducey has raised the most money early, while Bennett has led in early polls.

Randy Parraz, the cofounder of the Citizens for a Better Arizona group, told Fox News Latino the he believes no changes would occur after Brewer’s departure because of the many conservative candidates.

However, Parraz said that the growing Hispanic vote will change the Republican state for the better.