A Republican primary for governor is emerging.

With no fanfare press conference or rally, former Senate president John Greene announced his candidacy for governor June 23, declaring, “The governor’s honeymoon is officially over.”

In an interview at press time, Mr. Greene said Governor Napolitano’s administration has failed to deal with the future of education, border issues, health care and transportation infrastructure and is responsible for “uncontrolled spending”

“They believe the future is today,” he said “It’s almost like Paris Hilton is a spending consultant to the 9th Floor.”

Mr. Greene, who served in the Senate as president from 1993-1997, might face a candidate with a similar name in next year’s Republican primary election as well as another senate president.

Keith DeGreen, a financial advisor, says he will be a candidate for governor, and current Senate president Ken Bennett says there’s a “50-50” chance he will run.

Mr. Greene, also a former director of the state Department of Insurance and an unsuccessful candidate for Attorney General in 2002, said the Legislature reduced spending and taxes every year he was a member.

“Arizona is on it way to a financial train wreck,” he said in a statement distributed to the news media. “The incumbent has the misguided perception that revenues will increase to support this level of insane spending. Programs appear manageable now, but that will change.”

Mr. Greene said Ms. Napolitano’s position that illegal immigration is a federal problem is a “cop-out.” He added, “Let me be perfectly clear that I will have nothing to do with anyone who thinks these are racial or ethnic problems.”

Mr. Greene said his leadership style will be different from Ms. Napolitano’s, especially with the Legislature. “There is now true bitterness and zero trust between the Legislature and the governor. I will not play word games with the Legislature.”

A business and tax attorney, Mr. Greene is currently a founding partner in the law firm of Hahn Howard & Greene

Senate President Ken Bennett says if he decides to run for governor in 2006, he will most likely make a formal announcement in January so that he may complete his legislative term.

Reached by cell phone at press time, Mr. Bennett told Arizona Capitol Times there is a “50-50” chance he will run. “I am thinking very seriously about it,” he said.

Were the Prescott Republican to formally declare his candidacy for a different office before the last year of his Senate term, which expires at the end of next year, he would be required by law to resign his current office. Mr. Bennett said it was “unlikely” he would file as a candidate before January.

“I’m not inclined to throw the Senate into that kind of a change,” he said. “Some people would say it would be an improvement. Quitting is not in my repertoire. It’s better to fulfill the responsibility for which I was elected.”

Mr. Bennett conceded that his actions in the Senate next year could be viewed in a different light were he a candidate for governor. He said he will decide whether to run in the next several weeks.