On Jan. 20, former Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer replaced Janet Napolitano to become the 22nd governor of Arizona.

Napolitano, who had served as governor for six years, was appointed Secretary of Homeland Security by President Barack Obama and was officially sworn in on Jan. 20.

The state constitution places the secretary of state as first in line for the office of governor, should the position need to be replaced.

Brewer will be up for re-election in November 2010.

In her inaugural address given the day after being sworn in, Brewer pledged to help the university system.

“In every way we can, we must make our people free,” Brewer said. “Free to pursue an authentic higher education in our great research universities and our community colleges, at a cost that will not leave them under a crushing debt.”

Paul Senseman, director of communications for Gov. Brewer, said the state budget crisis takes priority over other policy formulations.

“The governor has inherited the state’s worst budget situation since statehood,” Senseman said. “But the governor has been busy appointing policy advisors to form policies.”

Senseman said no comment could be made on Brewer’s position regarding the cuts in university funding.

“It’s impossible for the governor to formulate an opinion about a specific aspect of the cuts without affecting other aspects of the cuts,” Senseman said.

NAU President John D. Haeger, who has met with Gov. Brewer to discuss university concerns, said he is confident in Brewer’s willingness to help the universities get through this crisis.

“She’s a very reasoned legislator and has a lot of executive experience,” Haeger said. “But I do think (the transition) is going to slow down the resolution to the budget. Gov. Brewer has to have time to transition and be brought up to date.”

Senseman agrees the transition might slow down the process.

“The transition process certainly makes it more difficult,” Senseman said. “The governor does not relish this challenge.”

Fred Solop, chair of the NAU Department of Politics and Internal Affairs, said the transition has been smooth.

“The transition has moved very quickly,” Solop said. “We’re in a budget crisis, so the new governor does not have time to catch up. She was facilitating the discussions all along.”

Solop said a Republican governor joining a Republican legislature will likely mean high cuts to avoid raising taxes, and proponents of higher education have reason to be concerned.

“Janet Napolitano was very good for education,” Solop said. “She gave us a budget that did not cut too deeply. Now that there’s a unified government, things will now move much quicker, and there is now a common interest (for deeper cuts).”

Solop said Napolitano used to travel to Flagstaff often due to Coconino County’s large Democratic constituency, which is unusual in a conservative state. Solop said the Republican governor might not be as interested in Flagstaff issues.

“Right now, she has her eye on more populated regions,” Solop said. “So I don’t see anything really favoring Flagstaff.”