Hoffman Advances Renomination Efforts for State Agency Leaders

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Director Nominations has introduced legislation aimed at reshaping the appointment process for state agency directors. Under this proposed law, any director nominees who previously served under another governor would need renomination from the current governor and Senate confirmation.

Sen. Jake Hoffman, a Republican from Queen Creek, proposed a striker amendment to House Bill 2872, which also dictates that the president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority must be nominated by the governor and appear before the Senate for confirmation.

Hoffman presented the bill on March 26 during a Senate Government Committee hearing, where it received support from Republican members, passing along party lines.

“Given Katie Hobbs’ track record of failing to properly vet her nominees, it is reasonable for the Senate to play a role in approving even those nominees carried over from a previous administration,” Hoffman explained in a text message. “This legislation empowers Arizona citizens, through their elected senators, with greater oversight of who holds these critical positions.”

Since assuming his role as chair in 2023, Hoffman has voiced concerns regarding several of Hobbs’ nominees, arguing some lacked qualifications. In her first year as governor, the Committee on Director Nominations, referred to as DINO, rejected or postponed decisions on multiple nominees, leading Hobbs to accuse Hoffman of obstructing competent candidates.

Recently, Hoffman’s objection to Tom Cole’s nomination as head of the Registrar of Contractors arose from worries over Cole’s ties to labor unions. Despite this pushback, DINO moved Cole’s nomination forward, culminating in Senate approval on April 2.

Earlier in February, the Senate dismissed Joan Serviss to lead the Department of Housing after DINO’s rejection of her nomination in 2023. Hoffman indicated that lawmakers decided to bypass usual protocols to expedite a vote, having gathered ample information to reject Serviss’ appointment.

In previous sessions, Hoffman has criticized the Arizona Commerce Authority and even proposed legislation to dissolve the agency. The authority is currently managed by a board including the governor, the Senate president, the House speaker, university presidents, and various private sector representatives.

During the committee meeting, Hoffman cited the need for the head of the Arizona Commerce Authority to be accountable to both the governor and the Senate, given the agency’s significant role in the state’s economic landscape. “They oversee hundreds of millions in economic development funding without a gubernatorial-appointed leader,” he noted.

Established in 2011 by then-Governor Jan Brewer to rejuvenate Arizona’s economy after the recession, the Arizona Commerce Authority has been under the leadership of Sandra Watson since 2012. A spokeswoman for the agency stated it has not taken a position on Hoffman’s proposed legislation.

This new bill, while reflecting Hoffman’s grievances with current nominations and the Commerce Authority, could also impact long-standing directors from previous administrations.

Will Humble, former director of the Department of Health Services, emphasized the authority wielded by agency directors. “They make significant decisions,” he stated, expressing agreement that such directors should be renominated with each new administration.

Humble added that while the process could induce more careful governance among agency directors, it also requires responsible action from the Legislature to ensure nominees receive the necessary hearings. “It’s a move in the right direction,” he concluded. “However, the Senate should be accountable for giving these nominees the hearings they deserve.”