Mixed Reaction Swift To News Of Hobbs’ Chief Of Staff Pick Chad Campbell

campbell
Chad Campbell, then senior vice president for Strategies 360, promoted marijuana legalization in 2019.

Reaction came swift to the news that Governor Katie Hobbs named former House Democratic Leader Chad Campbell as her new Chief of Staff. Campbell served in the Legislature from 2007-2015 and replaces takes over for Allie Bones who stepped down last week.

Since leaving the Legislature, Campbell has been one of the go-to lobbyist for mostly liberal causes including the Smart and Safe Arizona Act, which was also known as Prop 207. Prop 207 made it legal for adults 21 and older to possess, cultivate, and use marijuana. He was also a lobbyist for the Arizona Financial Choice Association, which represents the payday loan industry.

“It’s funny. @governorhobbs new Chief of Staff was one of the most important members of her transition teams, both as Governor and Sec. State. He advised on all her terrible staff hires, weak policies, etc. He helped create this dumpster fire. But now he’s going to fix it? Okay,” tweeted David Romney, District Director for Congressman Andy Biggs.

Romney later added, “If we’re being honest, he’s been telling Katie how to do her job for years. The only change is now he’ll get business cards and a parking space.”

Democrats, lobbyists, and an assortment of Capitol insiders praised the choice on Twitter:

“Sincere congrats to Chad Campbell on this well deserved appointment. @repcampbell has always been good to me — someone I have personally relied on for help and advice over the years, including as COS. He’s smart, and a person of high of integrity,” tweeted Daniel Scarpinato, former chief of staff for Hobbs’ predecessor Doug Ducey. “Welcome to the Chiefs club!”

“Exciting news! Sending a huge congratulations to Gov @KatieHobbs for selecting Chad Campbell as her new Chief of Staff! Super excited to collaborate w/ this powerhouse team to elevate AZ’s lodging & tourism industry. Best of luck to @repcampbell in his thrilling new role! 🌴✈️,” tweeted the Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association.

“🎉 Congrats to @KatieHobbs on her appointment of Chad Campbell as her new COS! 🙌🚚 We look forward to working with this dynamic team to strengthen AZ’s trucking industry and ensure the smooth flow of goods across our great state. Best wishes to @RepCampbell in his new role!” tweeted the Arizona Truckers Association.

“Excellent hire by @GovernorHobbs @repcampbell’s legislative expertise and private sector experience will be a huge asset to this administration, and we look forward to working with him and the team to continue securing wins for Arizona’s economy and job creators,” tweeted the Arizona Chamber of Commerce.

The resignation of Bones follows the resignation of Hobbs’ Communications Director, her Deputy Communications Director and her Legislative Affairs Director.

Capital insiders said the departure of Bones means that “the real Governor has jumped the sinking ship.”

According to the announcement, Bones left her position to “pursue new opportunities.”

Bones offered her resignation effective immediately and rumors about Campbell’s hiring began immediately as well.

In April, Hobbs replaced her Communications Director, Murphy Hebert. Herbert left the administration after Hobbs’ former and disgraced spokesperson Josselyn Berry was forced to resign for a violent message on Twitter sent the same day of the tragic mass shooting in Nashville by a transman.

Hobbs was forced to seek the resignation of Berry after she tweeted an image that appeared to advocate gun violence toward people she deemed to be “transphobes” mere hours after a transman killed three adults and three young children at a Christian school in Nashville.

On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Director Nominations rejected Hobbs’ appointee to lead another agency in her struggling administration. The committee voted to reject the nomination of failed Treasurer candidate and former State Senator Martin Quezada as head of the Registrar of Contractors.

Quezada’s appointment will go before the entire Senate body for a final vote at a later date.

In February, the Arizona Senate rejected the nomination by Hobbs 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, claiming the Governor rescinded the nomination.

In February, after conceding her crack crew had failed to do “adequate vetting,” Hobbs demanded the resignation of Matthew Stewart, who she had earlier nominated to head up the Department of Child Services.

Hobbs was then put in the awkward position of asking a man she had fired from the Director of the Department of Economic Security position, Michael Wisehart, to lead the Department of Child Services (DCS).

Hobbs pulled Stewart’s nomination after Senate Republicans found his troubling history, which included being reprimanded for “insubordination and unauthorized absence” when he was a DCS training operations supervisor in 2020. At the time, Stewart resigned from his position immediately before an intended suspension could be issued to him.

In late April, an appointee of Hobbs withdrew her name just days before her confirmation hearing to the Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments was set to take place. Catherine Sigmon was named to the post by Hobbs roughly four months ago but resigned her position as part of abandoning her nomination, after “disturbing revelations came to light,” according to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Sigmon is the finance manager and co-founder of the controversial anti-school choice group, Save Our Schools in Arizona.

RELATED ARTICLES:

Gov. Hobbs’ Hires Former Director Of DES She Fired To Replace New DCS Director She Fired

Hobbs’ Appointee Judicial Commission Resigns, Accused Of Questionable Conduct

About ADI Staff Reporter 12168 Articles
Under the leadership of Editor-in -Chief Huey Freeman, our team of staff reporters bring accurate,timely, and complete news coverage.