Trump nominates AZ Treasurer DeWit as NASA finance chief

Will this open the door for Gov. Doug Ducey to appoint Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Yee to fill out Jeff DeWit’s term?

Arizona Treasurer Jeff DeWit, who was a Donald Trump loyalist from the onset of the 2016 presidential campaign is being repaid for his staunch allegiance and diligent work as Chairman and Chief Operating Officer by being nominated to oversee the finances of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The new post requires senate confirmation and a move to Washington, D.C.  DeWit previously announced he would not run for reelection.

Tuesday’s newspaper reported that Arizona Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Yee (R-LD20) has announced her intention to run for state treasurer. In July 2016, Sen. Yee represented Arizona as a featured speaker at the Republican National Convention. SRAZ predicted then that “she was going places.” Read her impressive bio here.

At a September press conference, DeWitt, clearly a fan of conservative Sen. Yee,  presented her with an award, saying she “truly understands the role the State Treasurer of Arizona serves in protecting taxpayers.” Yee previously worked at the Treasure’s office during the Dean Martin administration.

At the same event, DeWit also pulled no punches, as he called Arizona Corporation Commissioner Tom Forese, “Sleazy Foresey” and said he,“Wouldn’t trust him with a dollar of my own, certainly not $15 billion of taxpayer money.”

DeWit was referring to the fact that Forese, who has opened a campaign for state treasurer has become a political hot potato over allegations that more than $3 million in anonymous money was spent to elect him and fellow commissioner Doug Little to the commission. The Phoenix Business Journal reported on speculation that Pinnacle West Capital Corp, the parent company of ACC regulated utility Arizona Public Service Co., was the source of the “dark money” contributions to a PAC run by political operative Sean Noble.

Following a successful term, Republican Jeff DeWit should be easily confirmed for the NASA post. It would then be up to Gov. Doug Ducey to appoint a replacement from the same political party. DeWit’s successor would have to run in the next primary election. 

This is Arizona Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Yee speaking at the Republican National Convention: