Hamer To Take Big Corp Lobbying Skills To Texas

PHOENIX — The man who has been described as Governor Doug Ducey’s lead cheerleader, Glenn Hamer, announced his resignation as president of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce on Monday. Hamer is heading to Texas to become the next president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business.

Ducey and Hamer’s tenures have been marked by increasing taxes and low wages.

Throughout his tenure, Hamer largely ignored the economic environment for small businesses, focusing instead on elevating Arizona’s international profile. According to a press release from the Chamber, Hamer was the state’s most vocal advocate for the passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and open borders and the low wages that stem from it.

“We have been so fortunate to have had Glenn at the helm of the Chamber for the last 14 years. The Arizona business community could not have asked for a more talented, dedicated advocate,” Arizona Chamber Chair Dawn Grove of Karsten Manufacturing said in the press release. “The entire membership of the Chamber has had a friend in Glenn. We will miss him greatly, but we wish him only the best as he moves on to champion free enterprise and American competitiveness for businesses in another leading southwestern state. Texas’ job creators are lucky to have him.”

The Texas Association of Business, headquartered in Austin, is Texas’ state chamber of commerce, representing the business community at the state Capitol and before the Texas congressional delegation.

Hamer will remain in his current role until February 18, at which time an interim president and CEO will be named by the Chamber board of directors while a nationwide search is conducted for a successor.