Arizona Capitol Times Your Inside Source for Arizona Government, Politics and Business

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has landed on another "best of" list. This time the former Arizona governor, who just last week showed up as one of D.C.'s most datable singles, is featured in the latest issue of Esquire as one of the "75 best people in the world."

Former state Senate candidate Elise Townsend has been indicted by a Yavapai County grand jury on two counts of fraud and theft by converting services or property, a class 2 felony. Each charge carries a prison sentence of three to 12.5 years.

Former Gov. Fife Symington's newfound interest in being governor has begged a number of questions about how his pardon from Bill Clinton came about in January 2001. It had been three-and-a-half years earlier that Symington had been convicted by a jury of using false statements to obtain loans, prompting his resignation

Rep. Adam Driggs is planning a fundraiser (his first ever since the two-termer has run publically financed both times) for Oct. 23 with a national hero as the guest of honor: Buzz Aldrin. "I'm hoping it will bring out a little more than the normal people who turn up for political fundraisers," Driggs told our reporter.

Given former Gov. Fife Symington's newfound interest in running for governor, Yellow Sheet asked Gov. Jan Brewer if she thought Symington was a good governor - and whether she would like to see her fellow Republican returned to office. Her response...

For everyone watching closely to see if the governor will choose to go into retirement next year or fight to stick around for a full term, she came closer to revealing her intentions this Sunday (Sept. 13) than she ever has. On Channel 12's Sunday Square Off, Brewer (the lone guest) told host Rick DeBruhl that she's "leaning" towards running.

Gov. Jan Brewer addressed the departure of long time employee Brian McNeil, saying: "We're going to really miss Brian. I've known Brian forever and he's been a very good employee, and I think that he's just made a decision that he wants to do something else, look at some other opportunities.

Democrats partying it up at the Wrigley mansion Friday (Sept. 4) night were pretty surprised when city councilman Sal DiCiccio, a Republican, showed up at their high-end fundraiser. DiCiccio and wife, Deb, were apparently there to enjoy the view at the hill-top locale. But DiCiccio's rival, Democrat Dana Kennedy, thinks he was actually crashing the party.

In the latest chapter of who may or may not be violating the state's murky resign to run law, it seems at least one legislator didn't know the law even existed. Rep. Ray Barnes, termed out in the House next year, has already formed a Senate campaign committee: not an exploratory committee - a committee.

With three days left until the governor needs to act on the budget, Sen. Jorge Luis Garcia, Sen. President Bob Burns and Gov. Jan Brewer met again this morning on the ninth floor to discuss a proposal laid out by Senate Democrats...