Former Senate President Ken Bennett gets a hug from Gov. Jan Brewer moments before he is sworn as secretary of state Jan. 26 on the second floor of the old Capitol rotunda.

In the same crowded hall where Jan Brewer took her oath as secretary of state six years ago, former Senate President Ken Bennett was officially sworn in as her replacement.

About 300 people were on hand Jan. 26 at the state Capitol Museum as Bennett took his oath of office from Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ruth McGregor.

Bennett spoke of the Secretary of State's Office as a clearinghouse where citizens can go to find out what's happening in government, and said it performs some of the state's most important functions, including elections.

"We are going to be working closely together with all 15 county recorders to make sure that the elections of this state, both statewide and local, are conducted in a manner that has the highest of integrity and accuracy, and that the people of Arizona can feel confident in," he said after taking his oath. "I commit every ounce of energy that I don't give to my family, I will give to the state of Arizona to make sure that the responsibilities of this office are conducted in a manner that's befitting of the great citizens and history of this state."

Brewer had high praise for her successor, whom she nominated less than two weeks before taking her own oath as governor.

"I know possibly better than anyone how critically important the office of secretary of state truly is to our democracy," Brewer said. "Ken's experience, his leadership and his credibility can give great confidence to the people of Arizona that their elections will continue to be completely fair, well organized and efficient."

Bennett said his first order of business would be replacing some of Brewer's top personnel who moved with her up to the Ninth Floor when she was sworn in as governor last week. Deputy Secretary of State Kevin Tyne, for example, is now serving as Brewer's chief of staff, and Joe Kanefield, who served as her elections director, is now the governor's general counsel.

Brewer was sworn on Jan. 20, the day after Janet Napolitano resigned following her confirmation by the U.S. Senate as secretary of Homeland Security in Barack Obama's presidential administration. During the interim week, Tyne served as acting secretary of state.

As secretary of state, Bennett has said Brewer wants his role to be essentially that of a lieutenant governor, putting to good use his eight years experience in the state Senate. As a state senator, Brewer had advocated the creation of a lieutenant governor position.

 "Governor Brewer has asked me to really be part of the administration and help her, maybe even with the budget and some of the issues I know having come from the senate president's office," Bennett said. "It'll be however she wants me to play it out. We're going to work that out over the next few weeks, I'm sure."