On Monday, Governor Katie Hobbs’ appointee for Director of the Department of Administration was put on hold by the Arizona Senate Director Nomination Committee.
Sen. Jake Hoffman, chair of the Committee, put a vote on the nomination of Elizabeth Alvarado-Thorson on hold following a discussion in which she “dodged” questions.
“This committee, not only myself asked questions. Senator Kerr asked questions. Senator Shope asked questions. We did not get direct answers that were honest and forthright to our questions. We got dodges, we got pivoting, we got political spin. That’s not what these confirmation hearings are for, and so I have to say directly to Katie Hobbs and to her staff, your nominees have to be able to come in here and have an honest, direct, and thorough conversation with us. We will not be a rubberstamp. That is not what our form of government -not what checks and balances exist for,” said Hoffman in announcing the Committee’s decision.
Looks like the new tactic of the 9th floor is to tell their nominees to evade or not answer questions. Glad the committee made it clear that no one will advance who does not directly answer questions. Citizens deserve direct and honest answers.
— Warren Petersen (@votewarren) February 20, 2023
Last week, the Arizona Senate rejected Hobbs’ nomination of Dr. Theresa Cullen to head up the Arizona Department Of Health Services. The Senate’s vote was interrupted by Minority Leader Sen. Senator Raquel Terán, who announced that she had received a letter from the Governor rescinding the nomination.
Cullen failed to win a nod from the Senate Director Nomination Committee after she struggled to answer a number of questions from committee members, including claiming to not know whether the school closures she had supported were in the best interest of children.
Alvarado-Thorson has served as ADOA’s deputy director since 2018. She holds a degree in Political Science from ASU.
The committee did approve Hobbs’ nomination of Jennifer Toth as Director of the Department of Transportation.
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