Kirschner: Arizona agency director vetting has broken tradition

When a new Arizona governor takes office, the first job is to appoint the governor's staff and the new agency directors. In 1987, Republican Evan Mecham took the office replacing Democrat Bruce Babbitt. I was appointed as director of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, better known as AHCCCS. The governor's staff does not need a Senate hearing or confirmation, but agency directors are required to go through this process.

I made appointments with all the senators on the Health Committee, and in March I had my hearing. It lasted two hours and was very professional. I received a unanimous vote, and the Senate confirmed my appointment the next day. That is the way the system is supposed to work.

One year later, Gov. Mecham was impeached, and Democrat Rose Mofford took the office. All the staff and most of the agency directors left their positions. I was asked to stay and needed Senate confirmation. That time I met with the Senate Health Care chair, and we agreed another hearing was not needed and he would present my nomination to the full Senate. I was approved.

Three years later, Republican Fife Symington was elected governor. All the staff and many agency directors departed. I was asked to remain in my job and agreed. The process of confirmation was the same as in 1988, and I was confirmed by the full Senate.

I have plaques on my office wall with signatures of those three Governors.

In 2023, Katie Hobbs became governor, appointed her staff and nominated agency directors. That is when the 100-year tradition of nomination, hearing and confirmation changed. Senate President Warren Petersen created a new committee to vet agency directors. That committee has failed to do the job and has left Arizona government in a difficult position to provide for the needs of our State. The actions of the Arizona Senate go against the traditions of our State and need to change for the good of Arizona.

Dr. Leonard Kirschner is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and was AHCCCS director from 1987 to 1993.