Our View: Trading state's woes for nation's

As Gov. Janet Napolitano now publicly looks ahead to her formal nomination as secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, this is a good time to note the reasons why her move to Washington will be just as good for Arizona and the country as for her own political career.

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President-elect Barack Obama clearly values Napolitano's talent in putting together a management team loyal to her directives and her ability to speak with a voice of authority about border issues and on relations with various levels of government in Mexico. For these reasons alone, Napolitano likely will be an effective choice to head one of the federal government's most cumbersome agencies that also has become one of the most important.

Still, many Arizona Democrats feel abandoned as their standard-bearer will pass the torch to Secretary of State Jan Brewer, a Republican who has received relatively little scrutiny since she was first took office in 2003. Napolitano's supporters fear Republicans who control the Legislature will have a free hand to pursue agendas that Napolitano had thwarted with her record-setting veto stamp.

But the reality is divided government has played a significant role in the state's budget crisis, the issue that will dominate Arizona politics through the 2010 elections. As the spending deficits have mounted, the political tug-of-war between Napolitano and the Legislature has delayed tough choices on long-term solutions. With Brewer at the helm, state government is more likely to approach budget solutions from a common perspective to pursue necessary spending cuts. It also means Republicans will reap all of the reward and all of the blame for those decisions.

Meanwhile, Arizona will have a powerful advocate within the Obama administration. The president-elect appears committed to another economic stimulus package that would dole out hundreds of billions of new dollars to aid states. Napolitano can work from the inside to land assistance for Arizona that would make a real difference instead of having money tossed wastefully in our direction or, even worse, leaving us out in the cold while other states benefit.

Finally, Napolitano's exposure to dangers of illegal immigration, and the many facets involved in reducing it, can benefit Arizona and other border states in the new Democratic administration. Napolitano can be expected to advocate strongly for adequate reimbursement to state and local governments for burdens on law enforcement and other local services. She also will insist on immigration policies that protect our safety without unreasonable interference of our economic prosperity.

We wish Napolitano great success in her new role.