I’m a big fan of checks and balances. You may call me an evangelist.
The founders of the US and Arizona constitutions were wary of decentralizing power. A divided government (and natural tensions between branches) is a big reason our republic has been so resilient and has stood the test of time.
Legislative oversight of the executive branch is essential.
why? Because legislative oversight of enforcement agencies builds accountability. Accountability makes government responsive and effective.
When I first heard about the new Arizona Senate Nominating Committee, I knew I had a great idea. The new committee may oversee candidates nominated for key board positions more closely.
In my experience, the old method of reviewing director nominations by a standing committee often resulted in a cursory screening of candidates.
But what looked good on paper turned out to be bad in practice.
Really bad.
Dr. Cullen’s ‘hearing’ was fake
Evidence A came last week when the newly formed Director Nominating Committee heard Gov. Katie Hobbs’ nomination of Dr. Teresa Cullen, Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services.
This “hearing” foreshadowed a brutal, if not impossible, confirmation process that was more eager to use political litmus test than to vette the professional qualifications of candidates for key positions. .
at first:Karen didn’t think COVID politics would derail confirmation
Commission hearings have become a broadcast of complaints about many of the public health policy decisions made during the pandemic by the Pima County Oversight Board. , opposed these policy decisions and held Dr. Cullen responsible.
The committee spent three hours indicting Dr. Cullen, but only voted along party line to deny her promotion.
Their decision to vote for her was made clear well before the committee hearing.
lost a good candidate
More than 30 medical and public health organizations have submitted letters of support to the Commission. Dr. Cullen was the ideal candidate to take the reins of an institution that over the years had been markedly lacking leadership at his level of quality director.
In the end it didn’t matter.
Unfortunately, a talented directorial candidate has been lost.
Dr. Cullen has a decades-long career in healthcare and public health, holding the ranks of Admiral and Surgeon Undersecretary for the U.S. Public Health Service.
She is adept at running very large organizations with budgets well over $1 billion. Her professional reputation is one of hers for integrity, accountability, and commitment to evidence-based policy.
Finding good agency leaders is hard
Dr. Cullen isn’t the only person to have received a political litmus test hearing rather than a professional review.
Elizabeth Alvarado Thorson, Gov. Hobbes’ nominee for Arizona’s Executive Director, received the same treatment for all abortions this week.
Filling these positions is not easy. They require highly specialized skills and expertise.
In some cases, he moved his family to Arizona, within the county, but was caught in political quicksand upon arrival. That quicksand undermines the ability to retain qualified staff within these institutions and makes it difficult to recruit additional local and national leaders.
the committee is running out of talent
Today, intense partisanship and the way board nomination committees are run slows board appointments and thwarts opportunities to recruit competent and qualified candidates for key posts.
If committee leaders change their purpose and scrutinize the professional qualifications of directorships, their work will provide a valuable service.
As it stands, the commission is basically kicking out people desperately needed by Arizona agencies.
It is not checks and balances. It’s sabotage.
The problem is not the new commission. The problem is how the committee works.
If that doesn’t change, we’re all going to be in big trouble and ordinary Arizonans will suffer.
Will Humble is Executive Director of the Arizona Public Health Association and served as Governor Jan Brewer (2009 – 2015) of the Arizona Department of Health Services.. contact him willhumble@azpha.org.
