Arizona Elected Officials Take Office In Official Inauguration Ceremony
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Arizona’s top statewide elected officials took their oaths of office Monday, as part of inauguration ceremonies.
Some used the occasion to talk about their priorities in office, while others talked about past achievements.
Gov. Doug Ducey pointed out that both Republicans and Democrats were sworn in Monday, all hired, he said, “by the same electorate.”
He also talked about the state’s pending decision on a Drought Contingency Plan, to deal with Colorado River water.
Ducey swore in for his second four-year term.
One of the offices that switched hands, and parties, Monday is the Secretary of State. The last Democrat to hold the office was Richard Mahoney, whose term ended in 1995.
Democrat Katie Hobbs took the oath Monday, and talked about the office’s vast duties. But, she said the greatest responsibility of the job is protecting the right to vote for all those eligible to cast ballots.
Another of the officials who won re-election in November is Attorney General Mark Brnovich.
As part of listing some of the things his office has done over the past four years, he mentioned a lawsuit he filed in 2017 against the state Board of Regents over increasing university tuition.
A Superior Court judge threw the suit out, but Brnovich told the crowd the issue still matters.
When she won her race in November, Kathy Hoffman became the first Democrat elected superintendent of public instruction since Diane Bishop left office in the mid 1990’s. Hoffman said she has a lot of goals for the Education Department.
New State Treasurer Kimberly Yee and incumbent Mine Inspector Joe Hart were also sworn in.
