By Jeremy Duda | Arizona Capitol Times
The power of the executive branch, a force to be reckoned with under any gubernatorial administration, has become noticeably more pronounced since Doug Ducey moved into the Governor’s Office.
Some Capitol observers view Ducey’s recent executive order prohibiting state entities from hiring contract lobbyists, a move that primarily affected regulatory boards and commissions whose members are appointed by the governor, as the most recent manifestation of a trend that started shortly after he was inaugurated in 2015.
In some cases, Ducey has consolidated or even expanded the power of the Governor’s Office either through legislative approval or simple executive action. And in terms of his general management style, the longtime CEO stands out to many at the Capitol as the quintessential strong executive, exerting greater control over the many disparate parts of his administration.
