Arizona state treasurer confirmed for NASA post
Official says DeWit plans to resign current position once date for his swearing-in is set
PHOENIX — The U.S. Senate has confirmed Arizona state Treasurer Jeff DeWit as chief financial officer for NASA, setting the stage for his resignation.
The unanimous voice vote on Wednesday comes about four months after President Donald Trump named DeWit to the post.
Deputy Treasurer Mark Swenson said Thursday that DeWit plans to resign his post once timing for his official swearing-in is determined. His seat will be filled by an appointee named by Gov. Doug Ducey, who will serve until after the November election.
The governor tweeted a congratulatory message to DeWit late Wednesday, despite their often tense relationship. DeWit opposed Ducey’s plan to tap the state land trust to boost school funding, which received voter approval in 2016.
DeWit was an early Trump supporter who served as chief operating officer for Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. He is a first-term Republican and state law requires that Ducey appoint another Republican.
Several Republican and Democratic candidates have already announced their intent to run for the treasurer’s post. The Republicans include state Sen. Kimberly Yee, who has DeWit’s endorsement, and Corporation Commission member Tom Forese. Both have raised more than $500,000 for their efforts. The best-known Democrat in the race is state Rep. Mark Cardenas.
DeWit said when he was nominated by the president in November that he would prefer that a career treasurer employee be named to head the department that oversees state finances until after the November election.
“We have some people running for that office right now, and I don’t think it would be fair to appoint somebody that’s running for the office,” he said at the time. “I think that’s kind of putting a thumb on a scale.”
DeWit had considered running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Jeff Flake before accepting the nomination.
As NASA CFO, DeWit will oversee the space agency’s nearly $20 billion budget. Before running for state treasurer as a political newcomer in 2014, he was CEO of an investment company he founded and worked in financial futures trading. He is married and has three school-age daughters.
He said it is likely the family would need to relocate to Washington, D.C., where NASA headquarters is located.