By Carmen Forman | Arizona Capitol Times
Gov. Doug Ducey Tuesday former Arizona Board of Regents President Eileen Klein to serve as state treasurer until the November election.
Klein unexpectedly resigned from the board of regents last month. Former chief of staff to Gov. Jan
Brewer, Klein served as the board of regents president since 2013.
Accompanied by Ducey, Klein was sworn in by Arizona Court of Appeals Judge Jim Beene.
“As someone who served as state Treasurer, I understand the importance and complexities of this role,” Ducey said in a press release. “I can say with certainty, Eileen is the most qualified person in the state of Arizona for this job.”
Klein will fill the vacancy created by former Treasurer Jeff DeWit, who left April 3 to become NASA’s chief financial officer.
Upon leaving, DeWit asked Ducey to choose a temporary placeholder to head the treasurer’s office until the election. DeWit asked that the person named not be politically motivated, and not be someone running in the election to become state treasurer.
Corporation Commissioner Tom Forese and Sen. Kimberly Yee — both Republicans — and Democrats Rep. Mark Cardenas and Mark Manoil are vying for the treasurer’s seat.
