All Alone
Treasurer David Petersen walks down a corridor at his agency at 2:41 a.m. Oct. 3, as shown on the office’s security system. He has been at the office on certain weekends since June.

State Treasurer David Petersen, whose appearance at work during regular business hours has been sporadic since February, has been visiting the empty office on weekends and, on one occasion, at 2 a.m. on a weekday, security videotapes show.
The tapes, obtained by Arizona Capitol Times under the state public records law, show Mr. Petersen in the office at odd hours on at least seven occasions since June. Since he came under investigation by the Attorney General’s Office in February for alleged criminal activities, Mr. Petersen says he is doing most of his work at home.
Governor has said, ‘show up for work’
Governor Napolitano has twice called on Mr. Petersen to show up to work full time.
As recently as Oct. 11, he was unavailable to sign certain documents, a source said.
The Treasurer’s Office security tapes show Mr. Petersen in the office on certain Saturdays and Sundays from June 17 through Sept. 23. On one occasion, he carried a videotape and on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 26, he entered the office with another man, both carrying briefcases.
On Tuesday, Oct. 3, he was shown entering the office at 2:41 a.m.
Mr. Petersen on Oct. 12 explained some of the visits to the office through spokesman Tony Malaj.
“On the day when another individual was seen with him in the office, that individual is a friend of his that he’s known since 1976,” Mr. Malaj said. “He came down from Utah. His name is Keith Larson.
“Being in the office at 2:30 in the morning — he came in to do some paperwork on the transition plan that he wasn’t going to be able to do the next day,” he said. “He came in to do that.”
Mr. Petersen, who chose not to run for re-election after the AG investigation was launched, has been working with his staff to prepare the office for the incoming treasurer in January.
“On the videotape, yes, he did have a video, but he doesn’t remember which one it was because he’s got a whole office full of videotapes and he’s not sure which one was in his hand,” Mr. Malaj said.
In an earlier interview, Mr. Petersen said he comes to the office during the regular business day for 20 hours per week, but sources say it’s about half that time.
Mr. Malaj and Chief Deputy Blaine Vance retained an attorney after they assisted the AG’s investigation.
Sources say the investigation is near completion.
Capitol Police constantly monitor security cameras in many state agencies, but some agencies have their own security cameras, such as the Treasurer’s Office.
FYI: The treasurer serves as the state’s chief financial officer charged with the custody and management of state monies. The Treasurer is third in line of succession to the Governor and serves as the Chairman of the State Board of Investment. He//she is elected to serve a four-year term and can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. The treasurer earns $70,000 annually.