Gov. Jan Brewer has fired Arizona Department of Administration Director Brian McNeil over what the administration described as a “personnel matter,” a move that stunned Capitol observers due to its peculiar timing and McNeil’s deep ties to the governor.

Page Gonzales, Gov. Jan Brewer’s director of policy, is departing the Ninth Floor to become newly elected Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Chucri’s chief of staff.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has made changes to her senior staff, appointing a new deputy chief of staff and state Department of Administration director.

Thousands of Arizona state government workers are opting to give up civil-service job protections in exchange for short-term pay increases and the possibility of other gains down the road. Nearly 5,300 workers, or nearly 38 percent of those eligible, voluntarily ...