PHOENIX — Gov. Doug Ducey isn’t worried that a disaster, natural or otherwise, is going to leave Arizona without a leader.
Ducey on Thursday vetoed legislation that would have required the secretary of state, attorney general or treasurer be taken somewhere else the next time there’s an event that normally would include all of them plus the governor.
That’s mainly aimed at things like the annual State of the State speech or the inauguration for statewide officers every four years.
Sen. Judy Burges, R-Sun City West, said it’s a simple matter of ensuring government will continue.
She said if everyone in the line of succession is wiped out, there’s no provision in the Arizona Constitution for who is in charge.
Ducey essentially dismissed the whole idea as interesting — but unnecessary.
“I appreciate the sponsor’s concern and hard work on this issue,” he wrote in his veto message. “However, I have great confidence in the capabilities of our law enforcement professionals to detect threats and protect us on a daily basis.”
Burges said that’s too bad and that all she was trying to do is prepare for possibilities.
“It was a cautionary measure,” Burges said. “What if something were to happen?”
Burges said she’s not giving up so easily. She promised to reintroduce the same measure on the first day of the 2017 session, though she conceded that Ducey will still be governor — and still able to veto it.
