By Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services | Pinal Central
Gov. Doug Ducey said Friday that Arizona could do “just as well” without electing certain county officials, like the assessor.
And he even conceded it may be worth discussing whether the voters should be choosing the state treasurer — Ducey’s first elected office that eventually became his stepping stone to governor.
The governor’s remarks are in contrast with what he told Capitol Media Services in October in the midst of the controversy involving Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen. Ducey said that the indictment of Petersen on various charges related to his running an adoption ring shows there is a need for a procedure to remove a sitting elected assessor from office.
But the governor said at the time he was quite happy to keep the procedure for selecting assessors — and other county offices — at the ballot box.
“I’m not looking to take the vote away from the people,” he said.
“That’s how the framers of the Arizona Constitution set it up in 1912,” the governor explained. “And it’s my job to then execute the laws in that framework.
He also said anyone who wants to alter that is “more than welcome to go to the ballot.”
And now
