When Gov. Katie Hobbs hit her first 100 days in office, I wrote an update on her progress toward one of her key campaign promises: increasing transparency in Arizona government.
That update, published April 14, noted that records were slow to be released and that her administration had barred reporters from attending a public meeting — a troubling start for an administration that pledged openness.
Ninth Floor still slow with records requests
Governor Katie Hobbs said several times she would bring transparency back to the Ninth Floor, but it’s arguable that hasn’t really happened yet through her first 100 days leading Arizona. It’d be incorrect to say there haven’t been some small improvements over her predecessor Gov. Doug Ducey given there was practically no transparency in that administra…
Now, 108 days later, the situation hasn’t improved. In fact, public records are arguably moving even slower. That same meeting reporters were kept out of? Mary Jo Pitzl of the Arizona Republic eventually did what any veteran reporter would do and simply walked in.
Since this publication is built on public records, let’s get right to it: the Ninth Floor under Hobbs is shaping up to be at least as opaque as former Gov. Doug Ducey’s office — and potentially worse. Ducey’s administration infamously lacked a public records coordinator. Hobbs has one, but responses are so sporadic that it often takes multiple follow-ups just to confirm a request was received. And that’s despite her office having a dedicated email, records@az.gov, for submissions.
The Republic recently reported that Hobbs still hasn’t appointed a single member to the Arizona-Mexico Commission, which she cleared out en masse in January. Five months ago, when that firing happened, I requested applications and other records on everyone who sought a seat on the 31-member board. None of those records have been produced.
That matters. These are political appointments with real implications for Arizona’s business community and cross-border relationship with Mexico. The public has a right to see who applied, who is being interviewed, and who is — or isn’t — being chosen.
The delays don’t stop there. I’m still waiting on records related to appointments to the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments and the Board of Executive Clemency, as well as updated Ninth Floor staff salaries amid ongoing turnover. In total, at least a dozen separate requests remain unfulfilled, most of them more than five months old.
Transparency shouldn’t hinge on who occupies the Ninth Floor — it’s a basic obligation to the public. Hobbs campaigned on that promise. So far, her office hasn’t met it.