Personnel – Stop Katie Hobbs

Arizona Democratic Party rejects Katie Hobbs-backed candidate in chairman race

PHOENIX — Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs was dealt another blow this weekend after her hand-picked candidate lost the race to become state party’s next chair.

The Arizona Democratic Party voted Saturday in support of naming Yolanda Bejarano as chairwoman by a margin of 440 to 186.

The loss marks another major political blow to Hobbs, who had spent months aggressively campaigning for the other candidate in the race, Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Gallardo (a member of her transition team). In doing so, Hobbs marginalized herself from a number of high-profile elected Democrats — Mark Kelly, Adrian Fontes, Greg Stanton, and Ruben Gallego, among them — who were supporting Bejarano.

In the end, Hobbs’s choice didn’t even come close.

Her deteriorating relationship with Republican lawmakers and the business community — both resulting from failed power-plays instigated by Hobbs — on top of this weekend’s newest loss in the state party chair race leave Hobbs with few allies amid the ongoing legislative session.

Katie Hobbs goes on hiring spree ahead of swearing-in

PHOENIX — Democratic Governor-elect Katie Hobbs has continued to fill her incoming administration with new staff and cabinet members ahead of Monday’s swearing-in.

Hobbs named four “key hires” on December 23: Jennifer Loredo and Director of Community Engagement; Rebecca Beebe as Legislative Director and Deputy Director of Public Affairs; Sophia Solis and Deputy Director of Communications; and Whitney Walker as Civil Rights Policy Advisor and Deputy Director of Policy.

The Democrat named her “health and human services cabinet members” on December 27: Carmen Heredia as Director of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Angie Rodgers as Director of the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Matthew Stewart as Director of the Arizona Department of Child Safety, Theresa Cullen as Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, and Joan Serviss as Director of the Arizona Department of Housing.

She also named her “environmental and natural resources cabinet members” on December 28: Karen Peters as Director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality; Tom Buschatzke as Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources; Cynthia Zwick as Director of the Residential Utility Consumer Office; Tom Torres as Director of the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management; Bob Broscheid as Director of Arizona State Parks and Trails; and Ty Gray as Director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Finally, she named her “public safety cabinet members” on December 29: Dana Allmond as Director of the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services; Kerry Muehlenbeck as Director of the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs; Ben Henry as Director of the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control; and Doug Sargent as Director of the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections.

Hobbs made several “key senior hires” earlier this month, including a Human Resources manager tasked with promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) throughout her administration, and named Assistant Secretary of State Allie Bones as chief of staff in November. Her transition team — comprised of “at least 9 members who built up Hobbs’s campaign war chest” — were tasked with identifying personnel for the administration.

The Democrat will be sworn into office on January 2. The inauguration — planned by Hobbs’s inaugural committee, “a roster that includes lobbyists and campaign donors” — is scheduled for January 5.

UPDATE (1/3/23): The day after her private swearing-in ceremony, Hobbs named Bo Dul as general counsel; Jason Chaves as tribal affairs director; Marisol Flores-Aguirre as southern Arizona director; and Tonya Hamilton as director of the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith, and Family.

Katie Hobbs at-odds with high-profile Democrats after endorsement of Steve Gallardo

PHOENIX — Still a week out from her inauguration, Democratic Governor-elect Katie Hobbs has already managed to marginalize herself in the race for state party chair.

Hobbs endorsed Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Gallardo as the next chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party earlier this month. But, according to a new report, other Democratic officials across the state aren’t happy about it.

AZ Free News reported this week that Hobbs has been “attempting to gin up greater support for Gallardo,” whose chairman bid is believed to be on life support after a number of high-profile Democrats — ranging from Mark Kelly and Adrian Fontes to Greg Stanton to Ruben Gallego, among many others — endorsed Yolanda Bejarano, currently the party’s vice chair, as chairwoman instead.

Gallardo was named as a member of Hobbs’s transition team in November.

Christine Jones: Being governor “really tricky for somebody” like Katie Hobbs “who’s never been in charge”

PHOENIX — Business executive Christine Jones said Sunday that running state government will be “really tricky for somebody” like Democratic Governor-elect Katie Hobbs who has “never been in charge.”

12 News anchor Brahm Resnik noted on this week’s “Sunday Square Off” that there has been “an open question” floating around the capitol “about Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs’s skills … as the state’s chief executive” and whether she can adequately perform the duties of the job.

Jones, the former general counsel and executive vice president at GoDaddy, said, “It’s really tricky for somebody who’s never been in charge or the CEO of this massive of an organization, so I think she really is going to have to rely on leadership in the house and the senate to come around her and support whatever policy agenda she has.”

Jones warned that “vetoing is not helpful” and that Hobbs should avoid becoming “known as the ‘no’ governor.”

However, the Democrat already has threatened to veto Republican bills and impose her policy agenda “without legislative approval.” One Arizona state senator, J.D. Mesnard, accused Hobbs earlier this month of “punching us in the face” ahead of the upcoming legislative session.

Katie Hobbs says shipping containers at border “a waste of Arizona taxpayer dollars”

PHOENIX — Democratic Governor-elect Katie Hobbs reiterated Friday that she wants to see the shipping containers removed from the U.S.-Mexico border.

Hobbs said during an interview with 12 News anchor Tram Mai that the shipping containers — a stopgap measure led by Governor Doug Ducey in the face of federal inaction — are “a waste of Arizona taxpayer dollars” and that “they’re clearly not an effective barrier.” She has staked out this position since the November election, pledging to remove the containers in order to avoid litigation.

The Democrat acknowledged on television that the federal government “is failing” Arizona at the border and expressed concern about the influx of illegal immigrants “we’re going to face when Title 42 is lifted.” However, Hobbs failed to disclose to Mai that she repeatedly backed the lifting of Title 42. For example, she told 3TV in April that “Title 42 is not working” and argued on Telemundo in October that “Title 42 is not immigration policy” and “I am not sure what issue it’s trying to solve.”

Hobbs has acknowledged on a number of occasions that she intends to defund Arizona’s Border Strike Force despite her campaign pledge to the contrary, a reversal for which she has been criticized by lawmakers.

The governor-elect also told 12 News that “hiring is really critical” and “that is going to serve us well in the Governor’s Office.” One of Hobbs’s first hires on the Ninth Floor, announced earlier this month, is a Human Resources manager tasked with promoting a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) agenda throughout her administration.

Katie Hobbs hires diversity, equity, & inclusion (DEI) director

PHOENIX — One of Democratic Governor-elect Katie Hobbs’s first hires to the Ninth Floor will be tasked with promoting a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) agenda throughout her administration.

The Democrat named Ariel Morin as her DEI director during an announcement of “key senior hires” to the Governor’s Office, a position that previously did not exist. Morin, who has a DEI certification, currently works for Hobbs as Human Resources Manager in the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office, according to court records containing a scanned copy of her business card.

DEI is a controversial philosophical framework that has led to personnel practices that some have called discriminatory. Hobbs has been embroiled in a years-long discrimination lawsuit, with a jury ultimately awarding a $2.75 million judgment to Talonya Adams, a black woman who accused Hobbs of treating her differently because of her race and gender while serving as a legislative staffer.

The other “key senior hires” that Hobbs announced are: Murphy Hebert as director of communications; Sarah Brown as director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting; Tracy Lopes as director of policy; Will Gaona as director of public affairs; and Ben Henderson as director of operations.

Hobbs tapped Assistant Secretary of State Allie Bones as her incoming chief of staff last month.

Katie Hobbs backs Steve Gallardo for Arizona Democratic Party chair

PHOENIX — Democratic Governor-elect Katie Hobbs announced her endorsement of Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Gallardo as the next chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party.

“I’m proud to support my friend, Supervisor Steve Gallardo for Arizona Democratic Party Chair,” Hobbs said. “Steve has already shown he will fight for our democracy and for Arizona – and he knows how to win.”

Gallardo, who backed Hobbs in the Democratic primary, was named to her transition team last month.

Members of Katie Hobbs inaugural committee donated $100,000+ to her campaign

PHOENIX — Democratic Governor-elect Katie Hobbs announced the members of her inaugural committee on November 30, a roster that includes lobbyists and campaign donors.

There are at least six current and former lobbyists on the inaugural committee: Reginald Ballantyne III, Mario Diaz, Fred DuVal, Neil Giuliano, John Graham, and Ron Ober.

The committee also includes 21 donors to the Democrat’s gubernatorial campaign: Moe Asnani, Diaz, Veronica De La O, Toni Denis, DuVal, Pam Grissom, Daryl Kling, Lewis Guthrie, Nestor Guzman, Susan Guzman, Sharon Harper, Oliver Harper, Kim Khoury, Simon Kottoor, Elizabeth Kottoor, Francis Najafi, Dionne Najafi, Ober, Victor Smith, Benee Hilton-Spiegel, and David Tedesco. In total, these individuals have contributed at least $100,295 to Hobbs since 2021 alone.

A table containing the itemized campaign contributions can be found by clicking the “Continue reading →” line.

The remaining members of the inaugural committee not listed above are Andy Denis, Jennifer DuVal, Kathleen Graham, Balbir Grewal, Gizette Knight, Donalyn Milkes, Gail Gordon, William Perry, and Jay Spiegel. Hobbs recently named several campaign donors to her transition team and as her chief of staff as well.

Katie Hobbs names longtime aide Allie Bones as gubernatorial chief of staff

PHOENIX — Democratic Governor-elect Katie Hobbs announced on November 21 that she has named Assistant Secretary of State Allie Bones as chief of staff for her incoming administration.

Bones, one of the Democrat’s longtime aides, has been registered on-and-off as a lobbyist since 2002. She previously operated a Phoenix-based nonprofit and served in the Napolitano administration. Bones has donated more than $6,000 to Hobbs’s campaigns.

Hobbs recently announced the members of her transition team, a roster that includes other lobbyists and campaign donors.

Katie Hobbs fills transition team with lobbyists, campaign donors

PHOENIX — Democratic Governor-elect Katie Hobbs announced the members of her incoming administration’s transition team on November 21, a roster that includes lobbyists and campaign donors.

The co-chairs of the transition team are Mike Haener and Monica Villalobos. Haener is a principal at the government relations firm Willetta Partners. Villalobos is the president and chief executive officer at the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

There are at least 15 current and former lobbyists on the transition team: Haener, David Adame, Ron Butler, Chris Camacho, Chad Campbell, Coral Evans, Marisol Garcia, John Graham, Martin Harvier, Andy Kunasek, Jim McLaughlin, Peggy Neely, Jackie Norton, Tonya Norwood-Pearson, and Stephanie Parra. Their notable lobbying clients have included the Arizona Education Association (teachers union), Arizona State University, Chicanos Por La Causa, and various labor unions.

The transition team also includes at least 9 members who built up Hobbs’s campaign war chest. Haener, Neely, Norton, Norwood-Pearson, Sharon Harper, and Danny Ortega donated to Hobbs directly, while Graham, Harper, Adame, and John Giles hosted a fundraiser for the candidate on September 20.

The remaining members of the transition team not listed above are Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren, Marlene Galan-Woods, Steve Gallardo, Berdetta Hodge, Jen Longdon, Garrick McFadden, Lynne Pancrazi, Frank Piccioli, Regina Romero, Fabian Sandez, Alfred Urbina, Mary Rose Wilcox, and Bob Worsley.

Hobbs declared victory in the gubernatorial race on November 15 but has been accused of “deliberately” antagonizing lawmakers ahead of her inauguration.