Janet Napolitano
Janet Ann Napolitano (b. November 29, 1957, in New York, NY) was previously the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. She was confirmed by the Senate on January 20, 2009, by voice vote.[1] Napolitano was the first woman to hold the post and only the third Secretary of Homeland Security since the formation of the Homeland Security Department in 2001.[2]
On July 12, 2013, Napolitano announced her resignation from Secretary of Homeland Security, effective in September 2013, to take the post of President of the University of California.[3]
Napolitano began her political career as the Attorney General of Arizona before serving two terms as Governor of Arizona and being nominated for U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.[4]
Biography
While born in New York, New York, Janet was raised with two siblings in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[2] Her father, Leonard Michael Napolitano, was the Dean of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.[2] She attended Sandia High School in 1975 on her way to graduating from Santa Clara University as the school's first female valedictorian in 1979, with a degree in political science.[2] She went on to earn her J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School in 1983.[4] In 2000, Napolitano was successfully treated for cancer in her right breast.[4]
Career
Below is an abbreviated outline of Napolitano's academic, professional, and political career:[4][2]
- 1979: Graduated from Santa Clara University
- 1983: Earned law degree from University of Virginia Law School
- 1983-1984: Law clerk for Judge Mary Schroeder of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- 1984-1993: Associate and later promoted to partner at Lewis & Roca
- 1993-1997: U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona
- 1999-2002: Attorney General of Arizona
- 2003-2009: Governor of Arizona
- 2006-2007: Chair of the National Governors Association
- 2009-2013: U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
- 2013-Present: President of the University of California
Confirmation vote
Napolitano was confirmed by voice vote on January 20, 2009, by members of the United States Senate.[1]
Elections
Napolitano was re-elected Governor of Arizona on November 7, 2006, defeating Len Munsil (R), Barry J. Hess, II (L) and numerous write-in candidates.[5]
| Arizona Governor, 2006 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Janet Napolitano Incumbent |
62.6% | 959,830 | |
| Republican | Len Munsil | 35.4% | 543,528 | |
| Libertarian | Barry J. Hess, II | 2% | 30,268 | |
| Write-in | Arthur Ray Arvizu | 0% | 10 | |
| Write-in | Robert B. Winn | 0% | 3 | |
| Write-in | Brian Wright | 0% | 6 | |
| Total Votes | 1,533,645 | |||
| Election results via Arizona Secretary of State | ||||
Full history
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2002 Napolitano was first elected Governor of Arizona on November 5, 2002, defeating Matt Salmon (R), Richard Mahoney (I), Barry Hess (L) and numerous write-in candidates.[6]
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Issues
Secretary of Homeland Security
"Right-wing extremism" memo
In April 2009, a memo was made public, assessing the threat of "right-wing extremist terrorism" in the United States.[7] A portion of the memo suggested the struggle of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan could lead to a rise in extremists "capable of carrying out extremist attacks," citing Timothy McVeigh as an example.[7] The American Legion was among the veterans groups that took offense to the analysis, stating that Timothy McVeigh was just one of 42 million veterans who have served during wartime, and to continue using that example was similar to using Osama bin Laden as the stereotype for Islam.[7] Napolitano pointed out that the report was defended by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. She apologized for the wording and spent time meeting with veterans groups who were offended.[7]
Walmart partnership
In order to promote the "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign established by Napolitano's Department of Homeland Security, the Department partnered with Walmart to show a video highlighting the campaign at checkout lines in 588 Walmart stores across the country in 2010.[8]
Governorship
Vetoes
Napolitano set a state record for vetoes by a governor in Arizona by using the executive veto power 180 times in the first six years, before accepting her position in the Obama administration.[9] She vetoed every piece of abortion legislation passed by the state legislature.[10] She also consistently vetoed bills aimed at loosening gun control laws[11] as well as measures aimed at criminalizing illegal immigrants, because she believed it to be a federal issue.[12]
Possible 2016 Democratic vice presidential candidate
- See also: Possible vice presidential picks, 2016
Napolitano was mentioned as a possible Democratic vice presidential candidate. On July 22, 2016, Hillary Clinton announced that she had selected U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) as her running mate.[13]
Analysis
Department budget
| U.S. Department of Homeland Security[14] Annual Budget | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Budget (in billions) | % Difference from previous year |
| 2013 | $50.1 | −16.08% |
| 2012 | $59.7 | 8.94% |
| 2011 | $54.8 | −2.14% |
| 2010 | $56.0 | 6.26% |
| 2009 | $52.7 | N/A |
Net worth
2011
Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Napolitano's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $93,037.00 and $695,000.00. That averages to $394,018.50, which ranks 22nd among executive branch members.[15]
Commendations
- In November 2005, Time magazine named her one of the five best governors in the U.S.[16]
- In February 2006, Napolitano was named by The White House Project as one of "8 in '08," a group of eight female politicians who could possibly run and/or be elected president in 2008.[17]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Napolitano has never been married and does not have children.[2]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Janet + Napolitano + Secretary + Homeland + Security
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 United States Senate, "Barack H. Obama Cabinet Nominations," accessed June 11, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Biography.com, "Janet Napolitano biography," accessed June 11, 2013
- ↑ L.A. Times, "Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security chief, to head UC," July 12, 2013
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 CNN, "Janet Napolitano Fast Facts," March 7, 2013
- ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "State of Arizona Official Canvass," December 4, 2006
- ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "State of Arizona Official Canvass," November 25, 2002
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 CNN, "Homeland security chief apologizes to veterans groups," April 16, 2009
- ↑ Department of Homeland Security, "DHS and Walmart: Partners in Promoting "If You See Something, Say Something" Campaign," December 6, 2010
- ↑ The Arizona Republic, "Napolitano exit would clear way for GOP to define state agenda," November 21, 2008
- ↑ LifeNews.com, "Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano Vetoes Partial-Birth Abortion Ban, Parental Consent," April 4, 2008
- ↑ Tucson Citizen, "Denogean: Move over, Iron Man; Arizona has the Veto Vixen," June 3, 2008
- ↑ Think Progress, "Napolitano: Arizona's New Immigration Law 'Doesn't Allow Law Enforcement' To 'Prioritize Public Safety'," April 15, 2010
- ↑ The New York Times, "Hillary Clinton selects Tim Kaine, a popular senator from a swing state, as running mate," July 22, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Department of Homeland Security, "DHS Budget," accessed January 31, 2014
- ↑ OpenSecrets, "Janet Napolitano, 2011"
- ↑ Time, "America's 5 Best Governors," November 13, 2005
- ↑ The Center for Politics, "Students Favor Condoleezza Rice, Hillary Clinton among Potential Female Candidates in Nationwide Online Poll," accessed July 16, 2013 (Note: half way through the archives)
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Michael Chertoff |
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security 2009-Present |
Succeeded by Jeh Johnson |
| Preceded by Jane Dee Hull |
Governor of Arizona 2003-2009 |
Succeeded by Jan Brewer |
| Preceded by Grant Woods |
Attorney General of Arizona 1999-2003 |
Succeeded by Terry Goddard |
