The businessman- turned-governor was CEO of the Cold Stone Creamery ice cream parlor chain before seeking public office.
Stacey Barchenger
Arizona Republic
Former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Tuesday finally announced his post-gubernatorial plans: leading a political group that promotes free enterprise ideas and seeks to grow political participation among people of like mind.
“Our free enterprise system has lifted millions of people out of poverty and spurred remarkable innovation,” Ducey said in a statement announcing his new job as CEO of Citizens for Free
Enterprise. “Unfortunately, these principles are under attack and our organization plans to lead an advocacy effort that will motivate more people who care about free enterprise to get involved in elections.” The job appears an ideologically perfect fit for the Republican former governor, who left office in January after eight years leading the state and making a pro-business and low tax economy his top priority. The businessman- turned-governor was CEO of the Cold Stone Creamery ice cream parlor chain before seeking public office.
Citizens for Free Enterprise is a political action committee that has predominantly received funding from TD Ameritrade, the online stockbroker founded by billionaire Joe Ricketts. In the 2020 election cycle, the group spent nearly $8 million, mostly on media campaigns opposing Democrats seeking Congressional seats, according to campaign finance records analyzed by the nonprofit website OpenSecrets.
