With the casting of votes by Arizona's 10 presidential electors, the 2008 election came to an official end.

And in presiding over the ceremony at the Capitol on Dec. 15, Secretary of State Jan Brewer's role as Arizona's top elections officer likely came to an official end as well.

"This day is a special event for me, because presiding over this vote today is likely to be my last act as Arizona's chief election officer," said Brewer, who is next in line to succeed Gov. Janet Napolitano. The governor has said she will accept a position in President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet as secretary of Homeland Security. "It has been an honor to serve the people in this very important role, and I am grateful to have worked with some of the very finest election officials in the country right here in Arizona."

Brewer presided over the swearing in of Arizona's presidential electors, a group that included several of Sen. John McCain's campaign officials. The votes will be sent to Vice President Dick Cheney, acting in his capacity as Senate president, and Congress will officially count the votes during a joint session on Jan. 8.

In Arizona, McCain, or rather his presidential electors, received 1,230,111 votes in the Nov. 4 election, while Democratic electors pledged to Obama received 1,034,707.

Attending the ceremony was former Gov. Rose Mofford, who in 1988 became Arizona's first female governor when she took over for impeached Gov. Evan Mecham less than two years into his term. Brewer will become the state's fourth female governor, and third in a row, if and when Napolitano's nomination to the Department of Homeland Security if confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Napolitano has said she will not resign her position until she is confirmed.

Brewer and her staff have been tight-lipped about what kinds of policies she may pursue as governor, though she said she might lay out her agenda in a state-of-the-state-type speech after she ascends to the Ninth Floor. But though she will be an unelected governor, the Republican Brewer said she would likely not feel compelled to continue the policies of her Democratic predecessor.

"I think that once I've been sworn in as governor then it's my decision," said Brewer, who as a state senator was well known for supporting the creation of a lieutenant governor position, which would ensure that a governor who left office early would be replaced by a member of her own party.

During an early December press conference, Brewer raised eyebrows by stating that a tax increase isn't "off the table" as a possible measure for balancing Arizona's overextended budget. Brewer, who has long held a reputation as an anti-tax fiscal conservative, was one of 33 elected officials from Arizona to sign an anti-tax pledge from Americans for Tax Reform in September. The group asks all signees to recommit to its Taxpayer Protection Pledge when they run for or assume a new office, and a spokesman said ATR has sent Brewer a letter asking her to re-sign.

At the ceremony, Brewer would not say whether she will re-sign the pledge.

"Not until I get a handle on everything that is in front of us. Certainly it's something that I've always supported in the past, but at this time, going through the transition, I've got a lot on my plate, a lot on the table, and I will make those kinds of decisions very carefully," she said.

Brewer also responded to Democratic criticism over the number of lobbyists on her transition team, saying she will not be unduly influenced as governor by special interests.

"I don't believe so. You know, what I've done is I've tried to bring together people that have made great accomplishments and are leaders in getting things done, and I think that's the kind of people I need to surround myself with. So I've tried to pick the best of the best in Arizona and they were willing to come and help me, and I welcome them," she said.