FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Senate Republicans Stop Governor's Extremist Agenda by
Rejecting Nomination of Medical Tyrant as State Health Director
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Arizona citizens can rest assured that they will not see a repeat of big government overreach at the state-level during a public health crisis, thanks to Senate Republicans today voting to reject the Governor's extremist nominee to the Arizona Department of Health Services, Dr. Theresa Ann Cullen.
In last week's Senate Committee on Director Nominations, disturbing revelations came to light on Dr. Cullen's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic while serving as Pima County's Health Director.
"We have Dr. Cullen on record in a number of media publications stating she supported the scientifically baseless and prolonged school closures, business closures, lockdowns, curfews, mask mandates, vaccine mandates and public shaming of those who did not comply with her discriminatory COVID directives, including her support for race-based public health policy," said Committee Chairman Jake Hoffman. "However, when I asked Dr. Cullen if she believed the benefits of her decisions outweighed the consequences, she would not give us a direct answer. Lives and livelihoods were lost under her leadership. The fact that Katie Hobbs thinks Dr. Cullen is fit to serve in a statewide public health role proves how radical and out of touch Hobbs is with the people of Arizona."
"If only Governor Hobbs would have taken the time to conduct the same thorough vetting process as my colleagues and I did at the Senate, we would not be here today, voting on- and ultimately rejecting- a nominee who clearly is not an appropriate fit for this position," said Majority Whip Sine Kerr. "The people of Arizona deserve better."
"This isn't the Governor's first rodeo. She served in the Legislature and also in leadership. She knows how this branch operates. Count your votes. Communicate with us. We'll let you know if the votes are there. After all, I'm the Majority Leader. Don't try to push a radical director nominee while preaching to the media a call for 'bipartisanship' between lawmakers," said Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli.
"We heard some pretty damning testimony in last week's committee hearing that was only made worse with lies from Dr. Cullen. Presenting us with this kind of nominee only highlights a failure from the Hobbs administration. Please do better, Governor Hobbs," said President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope.
"We now hope that the Governor takes a more pragmatic approach to this process and appoints individuals in the mainstream, without a political agenda, and who are ready to answer questions from the public," said President Warren Petersen.
Per ARS 38-211, Dr. Cullen shall not be appointed, and the Governor shall promptly nominate another person who meets the requirements for the office.
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus