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Jane Dee Hull
Jane Dee Hull
Jane Dee Hull
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Jane Dee Hull (née Bowersock; August 8, 1935 – April 16, 2020) was an American politician and educator who was the 20th governor of Arizona from 1997 to 2003. She ascended to the office following the resignation of Fife Symington; Hull was elected in her own right in 1998 and served one term, before being term-limited in 2002 and was succeeded by Janet Napolitano. She was the first woman formally elected as Governor of Arizona, and the second woman to serve in the office after Rose Mofford. She was a member of the Republican Party.[1][2][3]

Key Information

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Hull was a graduate of the University of Kansas with a degree in education. Hull worked as an elementary school teacher while her husband studied to become an obstetrician. She moved to Arizona with her husband, Terry, in 1962 where he began working on the Navajo Nation, while Jane raised the couple's four children and taught English. In 1964, the family moved to Phoenix, where she continued to raise her family. A decade later, she started her political career, and became involved with Republican women groups, in addition to volunteering on political campaigns.

In 1978, Hull was elected to her first political office, as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives. During her tenure in office, she would become House Majority Whip and Speaker of the House. In 1994, she was elected to the office of Secretary of State of Arizona, becoming the first Republican to hold the office in more than six decades. After ascending to the office of Governor of Arizona following Fife Symington's resignation, Hull was elected Governor in 1998 over former Mayor of Phoenix Paul Johnson, in a landslide election. Hull was constitutionally barred from running for a second full term in 2002, and retired from public service.

Early life and career

[edit]

Hull was born Jane Dee Bowersock in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Mildred (Swenson) and Justin Bowersock, an editor of The Kansas City Star newspaper.[4][5] Hull graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in education. She taught elementary school in Kansas while her husband was a public health physician there. She moved to Arizona in 1962, first to the Navajo Nation, and later to Phoenix.

After hearing a Barry Goldwater speech,[1] she campaigned for him in the United States presidential election in 1964.[6]

Legislative career

[edit]

Hull entered politics in 1978, being elected to the Arizona House of Representatives as a Republican. She served for seven terms, including two as speaker of the House, the first female speaker in Arizona history.[7] In 1991, while she was speaker, the Arizona legislature experienced a major political scandal called AZSCAM, which resulted in the resignation or removal of ten members of the House and Senate. As a result, Speaker Hull instituted a number of ethics reforms to reestablish public confidence in the legislature.[8]

Politically, On The Issues, a non-profit and non-partisan organization which records politicians' stances on issues, considers Hull to have been a centrist or moderate Republican.[9] Her record is considered to be fiscally conservative and socially moderate.[10]

Governor of Arizona

[edit]

First term (1997–1999)

[edit]
Then-Governor Hull during a visit to the Air National Guard's alert detachment facility.

Hull was elected Arizona Secretary of State in 1994. After Governor Fife Symington was forced to resign due to a felony conviction, Hull became governor on September 5, 1997.[11] She was sworn in by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, herself a former Arizona legislator. Arizona has no lieutenant governor, so the secretary of state, if holding office by election, stands first in the line of succession.[12]

1998 gubernatorial campaign

[edit]

Hull was elected governor in her own right in 1998. This election was particularly significant because it was the first time in the history of the United States that all five of the top elected executive offices in one state were held by women: Hull; Betsey Bayless, secretary of state; Janet Napolitano, attorney general; Carol Springer, treasurer; and Lisa Graham Keegan, Superintendent of Public Instruction.[13]

Second term (1999–2003)

[edit]

While she was governor, Hull's relations with home state U.S. Senator John McCain were strained. During the 2000 Presidential primary season she endorsed his opponent, Texas Governor George W. Bush, in the Arizona primary.[14]

Hull is known for having signed into law the bill that resulted in the "alt-fuels" scandal of 2000. The resulting law promised car buyers up to 60 percent off new vehicles if they were converted to run on alternative fuels like propane or natural gas, yet it did not properly cap the number of buyers eligible for the program nor did it require buyers to use the new fuels. Instead of the $10 million the program was supposed to cost, it ended up costing Arizona $200 million before lawmakers changed the rules.[15]

Hull presided over the execution of Walter LaGrand, over the first ever recommendation of a stay from the Arizona clemency board. [16]

Post-governorship

[edit]

Hull was constitutionally barred from running for a second full term in 2002 (the Arizona constitution limits the Governor to two consecutive terms, or parts of terms,[17] even when ascending to the office in the middle of a term), and she was succeeded by Janet Napolitano, who defeated Matt Salmon. After leaving office, Hull spent three months in New York City, as a public delegate from the United States to the United Nations General Assembly (2004).[18]

After the death of Rose Mofford on September 15, 2016, Hull became the oldest living Governor of Arizona, in addition to being the oldest living Secretary of State of Arizona. An elementary school is named for Hull in Chandler.[19]

Personal life

[edit]

Hull married Terry Hull, an obstetrician in 1954. They had four children. Hull died on April 16, 2020, at age 84; her husband had died earlier on the same day.[20][21]

Electoral history

[edit]
Arizona Gubernatorial Election 1998
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jane Dee Hull (incumbent) 620,188 60.95
Democratic Paul Johnson 361,552 35.53
Libertarian Katherine "Kat" Gallant 27,150 2.67

Legacy

[edit]

Former Arizona governor Janet Napolitano characterized her as "a straight shooter", and then governor Doug Ducey credited her with "providing steady leadership and unwavering commitment to do what's right and ethical"[22]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Jane Dee Hull

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Jane Dee Hull (August 8, 1935 – April 16, 2020) was an American Republican and former educator who served as the 20th governor of from September 1997 to January 2003, becoming the first woman elected to that office after initially ascending via succession as following the resignation of . Born in , Hull earned a in elementary from the in 1957 and worked as a teacher before entering politics. Elected to the in 1979, she served until 1993, including as the first woman speaker of the house from 1991 to 1992, during which she oversaw responses to the AzScam involving several legislators. Appointed in 1993, she became upon Symington's conviction for , then won election in 1998. As , Hull prioritized , securing voter approval for a increase that generated over $10 billion for schools and earning her the nickname "Education Governor"; she also expanded health coverage for low-income children, advanced state use of the , and implemented post-9/11 while focusing on economic growth and environmental preservation. Her administration faced criticism for a flawed vehicle emissions reduction program that overpromised rebates to car buyers. Hull, who died at age 84 alongside her husband Terry Hull, was remembered for promoting civility, tolerance, and throughout her career.

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Family Origins

Jane Dee Hull was born Jane Dee Bowersock on August 8, 1935, in . She was raised in the nearby suburb of Mission, Kansas, where her father worked for two decades as the aviation editor of . Hull's early years in the Midwest were shaped by a family environment rooted in journalistic and professional pursuits, reflecting the era's emphasis on and self-sufficiency amid post-Depression recovery. Her upbringing in this setting fostered a strong and community orientation, traits that later informed her personal philosophy. In 1954, Bowersock married Terrance Ward "Terry" Hull, a fellow Kansas City native who pursued a medical career as an obstetrician. The couple relocated to in 1962 with their four young children, initially settling in Chinle on the , drawn by Terry Hull's opportunity to serve as a physician with the U.S. Service. This move marked a pivotal shift from Midwestern roots to the American Southwest, highlighting the family's adaptability and commitment to in underserved areas.

Academic Background and Early Teaching Experience

Hull earned a in elementary education from the in 1957. She subsequently completed postgraduate coursework in political science, business, and economics at . Following her undergraduate studies, Hull taught in the Kansas City school system while her husband pursued medical training. In 1962, she relocated to with her family and began teaching junior high school in Chinle on the , serving in that role until 1964. This position immersed her in the practical demands of educating students in a remote, reservation-based environment with limited resources.

Legislative Career

Election to Arizona House of Representatives

Jane Dee Hull was elected to the in the November 7, 1978, general election, securing a seat as a Republican representing District 18 in the . She assumed office in January 1979, entering politics at a time when Arizona voters grappled with escalating and state expenditures, prompting legislative efforts like the 1978 Property Tax Relief Program and ballot measures aimed at tax limitations. This environment, part of a national tax revolt wave, favored Republican candidates emphasizing fiscal restraint in rapidly expanding suburban districts. Hull was reelected to multiple terms, serving continuously through the early and focusing on constituent services for residents in her Phoenix-area district amid Arizona's surge from 2,718,215 in to 3,665,228 in 1990. The state's growth, driven by migration to suburbs like those in Maricopa County, bolstered Republican mobilization, enabling Hull's sustained representation of local priorities such as controlled government expansion to align with taxpayer concerns. Her early legislative efforts established a foundation for , prioritizing local control over state-level overreach in a period of demographic and economic transformation.

Key Legislative Roles and Contributions

Hull served in the from 1979 to 1993, ascending to key leadership roles including chair of the House Education Committee, where she focused on policies to enhance educational effectiveness through accountability measures tied to student performance data. As Education Committee chair, her efforts emphasized practical reforms over expansive regulatory frameworks, drawing on empirical indicators such as results to advocate for streamlined oversight in public schools. In 1993, Hull became the first woman elected Speaker of the Arizona House, a position she held until 1994, during which she instituted ethics reforms to strengthen legislative integrity and transparency. Under her speakership, the House advanced bipartisan negotiations on , including oversight of the Joint Legislative Committee on Achieving Groundwater Management Goals, which addressed water rights allocation amid growing urban demands without imposing overly restrictive federal-style mandates. Hull's legislative influence extended to economic policies in the , where her support for state initiatives aligned with Arizona's period of robust expansion; the state's real GDP growth averaged approximately 4.5% annually from 1980 to 1990, surpassing the national rate of 3.2%, though this era also saw criticisms of elevated and spending levels under Republican-led assemblies. These contributions prioritized causal factors like reduced bureaucratic hurdles for development over stringent environmental controls on urban growth, reflecting a preference for market-driven solutions to sprawl and pressures.

Ascension to Statewide Office

Service as Secretary of State

Jane Dee Hull was elected on November 8, 1994, securing 604,024 votes, or 56.01 percent of the total, against Democratic candidate Pete Rios's 404,216 votes. She resigned her seat in the on October 4, 1993, to pursue the statewide office. Hull assumed the position on January 3, 1995, marking her as the second woman to serve in the role and the first Republican since 1931. As , Hull oversaw the administration of elections, , certification of ballot measures, and maintenance of official state records, including archives and business filings. Her responsibilities encompassed ensuring compliance with election laws and managing the 1996 general election, which included the presidential contest where Arizona's totals reflected 892,000 in Maricopa County alone by late 1996. During this period, the office handled implementation of federal mandates under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, facilitating registration at designated public agencies while upholding state verification standards. Hull's tenure demonstrated administrative competence in non-partisan oversight, prioritizing procedural accuracy amid contemporary discussions on and registration integrity, without adopting expansive reforms that could compromise verifiable voter eligibility. She served until , 1997.

Interim Governorship Following Symington Resignation

Jane Dee Hull ascended to the governorship on , 1997, as Arizona's and the constitutional successor following Fife Symington's , which took effect that day after his conviction on seven federal felony counts of stemming from misrepresentations to lenders in his prior projects. The transition occurred without interruption to state operations, as Arizona law mandates the assume the role upon vacancy, obviating a special and preserving executive continuity under Republican leadership amid Symington's ongoing legal appeals. Hull's initial focus centered on fiscal prudence to navigate the state's budget amid the rollout of 1996 federal welfare reforms, which devolved program administration and funding pressures to states; she vetoed select spending measures and line-item reductions in appropriations bills to curb outlays, contributing to the preservation of Arizona's general fund surplus reported at approximately $100 million for fiscal year 1997-1998. These actions aligned with maintaining the state's AAA/Aaa credit ratings from major agencies, as affirmed in the 1997 comprehensive annual financial report, avoiding fiscal strain that could jeopardize bondholder confidence during the leadership shift. Concurrently, Hull directed immediate attention to emerging operational risks, including Year 2000 (Y2K) compliance for state information systems; upon taking office, she queried agency heads on preparedness and, by November 25, 1997, issued a mandating prioritized remediation to mitigate potential disruptions from date-code failures in legacy software. She also commissioned or reviewed reports on key departments, such as , to identify inefficiencies and ensure accountable without new expenditures.

Gubernatorial Tenure

Initial Term and Transition Challenges (1997–1999)

Hull assumed the governorship on September 5, 1997, following Fife Symington's amid a , inheriting a state administration requiring rapid stabilization amid ongoing legal and fiscal pressures from prior administrations. With Arizona's economy expanding—evidenced by rates averaging approximately 4.5% from late 1997 through 1998, aligning with national trends of robust job growth—Hull prioritized administrative continuity and restraint against legislative tendencies toward expansive spending. Her initial tenure involved navigating a Republican-controlled resistant to certain reforms, particularly in curtailing earmarks, where she exercised veto authority to block provisions deemed fiscally imprudent, reflecting a commitment to evidence-based budgeting over interest-group allocations. A primary hurdle stemmed from the Supreme Court's mandates in Roosevelt Elementary School District No. 66 v. Bishop (1994–1998), which required equalization of school funding disparities across districts to comply with the state constitution's uniformity clause. Hull advanced per-pupil funding equity and facilities overhaul, drawing on her prior experience as a public school to emphasize targeted over generalized tax hikes advocated by groups. In response to the court's 1997 rejection of preliminary legislative proposals as insufficiently equalizing, her administration collaborated on the Students FIRST Act (H.B. 2054), signed into law on May 21, 1998, which created a state-level building renewal fund financed by redirected sales taxes, ensuring new and renovations met minimum standards without net tax increases. This measure addressed empirical funding gaps—where poorer districts lagged in facilities quality—while avoiding dependency on ongoing appropriations that could inflate deficits, though subsequent litigation tested its implementation fidelity. Hull also coordinated responses to environmental crises, including severe flash flooding triggered by Hurricane Nora's remnants on September 24, 1997, which prompted activation of the state emergency operations center and federal disaster declarations affecting counties. Her approach stressed localized infrastructure hardening and rapid federal aid integration via FEMA, prioritizing causal factors like monsoon-enhanced storm surges over reactive dependency models, with recovery efforts focusing on resilient rebuilding to mitigate future vulnerabilities without expanding permanent state bureaucracies. These actions bridged her interim role toward the 1998 election, underscoring pragmatic governance amid judicial, legislative, and natural pressures.

1998 Gubernatorial Campaign and Election

Incumbent Republican Governor Jane Dee Hull secured the Republican nomination for a full term on September 8, 1998, defeating challenger Jim Howle with 76.6% of the vote in the primary election. Her opponent, Democrat Paul Johnson, a telecommunications executive from Phoenix, ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Hull's campaign emphasized continuity from her interim tenure, focusing on fiscal stability achieved through balanced budgets following the financial irregularities of her predecessor, J. Fife Symington III, in contrast to Johnson's proposals for expanded government spending on infrastructure and social programs. In the general election held on November 3, 1998, Hull defeated Johnson decisively, receiving 620,188 votes (60.95%) to Johnson's 361,552 (35.53%), with minor candidates Katherine Gallant (Libertarian) and Scott Malcomson (Reform) taking the remainder. The victory reflected strong support in suburban and rural areas, driven by Republican-leaning voters in growing Phoenix metro regions, amid a national midterm environment where Democrats gained House seats but Republicans retained key state executive positions in conservative states like Arizona. Hull's margin exceeded 258,000 votes, underscoring her appeal based on legislative experience and administrative record rather than demographic factors. Hull's election marked her as the first woman to be elected governor of Arizona in her own right, following her appointment to the interim role in 1997, a milestone attributed to her prior successes in the state legislature and secretary of state office rather than identity-based appeals. The campaign avoided heavy reliance on partisan attack ads, with Hull highlighting empirical achievements in education funding and economic recovery, while Johnson criticized her for insufficient investment in public services. Voter turnout aligned with midterm patterns, though specific Arizona figures for the gubernatorial race totaled over 1 million ballots cast, reflecting mobilization among registered Republicans who outnumbered Democrats in the state.

Full Term Policies and Administration (1999–2003)

Hull's full-term administration prioritized a streamlined executive branch structure, fostering to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses and stimulate economic activity. Her support for unemployment compensation reforms, testified to by Hull herself in congressional hearings, aimed to align state policies with employer needs, contributing to a business-friendly environment that attracted investments during Arizona's late-1990s growth phase. This approach grounded governance in empirical links between lower regulatory costs and higher output, as evidenced by the state's participation in national economic discussions emphasizing such reforms. To capitalize on emerging opportunities, Hull established the Partnership for the , which focused on enhancing the tech sector's role in state prosperity through targeted policy recommendations. These efforts aligned with causal factors driving business relocations, including Arizona's relatively low compared to high-regulation states, supporting job creation in high-growth industries amid the dot-com era's expansion. In managing fiscal and infrastructure priorities, the administration promoted public-private partnerships as a core strategy, exemplified by the Transportation Vision 21 Task Force convened under Hull to recommend collaborative models for statewide transportation enhancements. This framework enabled development—such as road and transit improvements—without precipitous debt increases, maintaining Arizona's per capita expenditures below national averages relative to personal income during the period. Hull handled compacts with pragmatic realism, signing agreements that secured state revenue shares while respecting tribal sovereignty under . In 1998, she approved a compact with Arizona's 17th , extending Class III gaming rights in exchange for payments to the state. By December 2002, Hull finalized new compacts with ten tribes, including the Gila River Community, generating ongoing funds for education and public services through negotiated exclusivity and revenue formulas, avoiding ideological standoffs that delayed similar arrangements elsewhere.

Major Initiatives in Education and Fiscal Policy

During her tenure, Hull prioritized education accountability by supporting the expansion and enforcement of the Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) test, which linked student promotion, graduation, and school funding to standardized performance metrics across core subjects. Initially enacted in , the program's rigor increased under Hull's administration through her endorsement of tied incentives, aiming to ensure diplomas reflected verifiable competencies rather than , amid debates from educators concerned about narrowed curricula. Hull also championed parental choice mechanisms, including the state's pioneering school tuition organization (STO) tax credit program, which allowed taxpayers to redirect up to $500 annually from state liabilities to scholarships for private and parochial schools, fostering competition without direct appropriations. This approach, upheld by the in 1999, empirically diverted funds from public monopolies to alternatives, with participation growing to support thousands of low-income students by 2003, countering critiques from public school advocates who viewed it as undermining district revenues. In , Hull signed multiple tax relief packages, including a 1999 reform delivering $280 million in annual savings through rate reductions and credits, extending Arizona's streak of consecutive tax cuts amid post-boom revenue surpluses that outpaced baseline spending growth. However, to address shortfalls, she proposed and voters approved Proposition 301 in 2000, raising the by 0.6 percentage points to generate over $450 million yearly for K-12 classrooms, teacher raises, and performance-based pay—earmarked uses that prioritized direct instructional investment over general redistribution. This targeted hike, distinct from broad spending expansions, aligned revenue increases with specific outcomes, as general fund appropriations rose modestly while avoiding unfunded mandates.

Environmental and Infrastructure Decisions

During her tenure, Governor Hull advanced infrastructure development to accommodate Arizona's rapid population growth, particularly through highway expansions funded by voter-approved measures. In November 1998, Arizona voters passed Proposition 303, which extended a half-cent increase originally approved in 1988 to finance additional road projects, including extensions and widenings of urban freeways like Loop 101 in the to alleviate congestion based on projected traffic volumes exceeding capacity by the early . Hull's administration established the Transportation Vision 21 Task Force in February 1998 to recommend long-term guidelines for transportation infrastructure, emphasizing data-driven planning for freight and commuter corridors amid a surge from 3.7 million residents in 1997 to over 5 million by 2003. Hull prioritized water conservation amid Arizona's reliance on the , where the state's 2.8 million annual allocation faced increasing demands from urban expansion and . In June 2000, she issued 2000-07 creating the Governor's Water Management Commission, a 49-member panel tasked with reviewing the 1980 Groundwater Management Act and proposing strategies to achieve "safe-yield" pumping by 2025 in active management areas, including incentives for recharge projects and conservation technologies to reduce over-pumping by up to 20% in key basins. The commission's 2001 report advocated state-led investments in infrastructure like storage to preserve entitlements, critiquing federal overregulation that could hinder local adaptations to arid conditions. In 1999, Hull launched the Arizona Rural Watershed Initiative to fund localized watershed protection, directing resources toward non-structural solutions like riparian restoration over rigid federal mandates. On , Hull supported controlled growth measures to mitigate urban sprawl's pressures on water and habitat resources, endorsing the Growing Smarter Plus legislation in 1998, which expanded tools for municipalities to cluster development and preserve open spaces through updated comprehensive plans. Her administration proposed setting aside approximately 270,000 acres of state trust lands for conservation, balancing development approvals with empirical assessments of and drawdown, as opposed to unchecked annexation that had increased impervious surfaces by 15% in Maricopa County during the . Hull balanced mining operations, a key economic driver contributing over $3 billion annually to 's economy, with environmental protections by integrating aquifer safeguards into permitting under the Aquifer Protection Permit program, which regulated discharges to prevent contamination while allowing extraction based on site-specific hydrologic data. Regarding the federal Endangered Species Act, she advocated for collaborative, incentive-based approaches prioritizing state and local solutions over blanket restrictions, arguing that federal listings often disregarded regional economic data and recovery metrics, as evidenced by her support for "Good Samaritan" cleanup provisions to encourage voluntary habitat improvements without fears. This stance aligned with efforts to streamline protections for like the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl while avoiding prohibitions that could idle thousands of acres of productive land, favoring stewardship models informed by Arizona Game and Fish Department monitoring over prescriptive national rules.

Post-Governorship and Later Years

Involvement in Philanthropy and Public Service

Following her tenure as governor, Hull served as a public delegate from the United States to the in 2003, contributing to international discussions on global issues. Hull supported the establishment of the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), a focused on advancing genomic research for medical breakthroughs, which commenced operations in 2003 after her initiatives during her governorship laid foundational groundwork. In 2018, she participated in extending Proposition 301 alongside Governor , securing ongoing funding for K-12 education programs through 2041 and reflecting her continued commitment to educational improvement rooted in her background as a teacher. Her post-gubernatorial efforts were recognized with awards honoring her contributions to 's bioscience sector and business community, including the Arizona Bioindustry Association's Pioneer Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2019 and the 's Barbara Robey Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. Hull's experiences were also documented in scholarly analyses of women governors, positioning her as an exemplar for and among emerging female political figures, emphasizing principled public engagement over identity-based advancement.

Health Decline and Death

In her later years, Jane Dee Hull resided in , where she experienced declining health following long illnesses that necessitated hospice care. Hull died peacefully at her home on April 16, 2020, at the age of 84 from natural causes. Her husband, Terrance "Terry" Hull, a physician to whom she had been married for 66 years, had died only hours earlier that same day at age 85, also from natural causes while in hospice care. Following her death, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and other officials issued statements praising Hull's public service, with Ducey describing her as a "true trailblazer" whose legacy endured through her contributions to the state. Former Governor Jan Brewer, who had known Hull since 1981, highlighted the couple's enduring partnership and Hull's tireless work for Arizona. These tributes from Republican figures underscored respect for her record in state governance, without partisan division.

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

Jane Dee Hull married Terrance Ward "Terry" Hull, her high school sweetheart, in 1954. Terry Hull, a physician specializing in obstetrics, supported the family's relocation to Arizona in 1962, where he worked for the U.S. Public Health Service on the Navajo Nation. The couple remained married for 66 years until their deaths hours apart in 2020. While Terry pursued medical training, Hull taught elementary school, later prioritizing homemaking upon the family's move, where she raised their four children: Jeanette Polvani, Robin , Jeffrey Hull, and Michael Hull. The family settled in Phoenix, with Hull managing household responsibilities alongside community involvement, reflecting a practical integration of domestic and public roles before her entry into politics. The Hulls' children pursued independent paths, contributing to a family legacy of ; the couple was also survived by eight grandchildren.

Religious and Community Affiliations

Hull engaged in in Phoenix through local efforts. She served as a Girl Scout leader for three years, fostering youth development and leadership skills among girls. In education, Hull contributed to at-risk youth on the by teaching elementary school and establishing a program in , addressing immediate educational needs in underserved areas. Her work there earned rare invitations from the to participate in sacred ceremonies, typically reserved for tribal members. Hull held board positions with various community and service organizations, reflecting her commitment to . She received the Anti-Defamation League's Torch of Liberty award for advancing tolerance and civil rights. Following her career, memorials suggested contributions to Hospice of the Valley, underscoring ties to health-related nonprofits.

Electoral History

State Legislative Elections

Hull was first elected to the on November 7, 1978, securing one of two seats in Legislative District 7 (Maricopa County) with 9,955 votes. The Democratic candidates, Sue Tucker and Jennie Cox, received 5,769 and 5,138 votes, respectively. She was reelected on November 4, 1980, for District 19 alongside incumbent Republican Tony West, defeating Democratic challenger Mark Winemiller. Following after the 1980 census, Hull won reelection in 6 in 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, and 1992, serving continuously from January 1979 until her resignation on October 4, 1993, to pursue statewide office. These victories occurred amid Republican gains in fast-growing Maricopa County districts, driven by in-migration tied to economic expansion.
YearNotes
19787Elected (multi-member ; two Republicans prevailed)
198019Reelected (minimal primary opposition; general vs. Democrat)
1982–1992 (even years)6 (post-)Reelected; often unopposed or with token primary challengers due to conservative alignment

Gubernatorial Elections

In the Republican primary election on September 8, , incumbent Jane Dee Hull secured renomination by defeating challenger Jim Howle with 177,324 votes, representing 76.52% of the total primary vote for the party. Howle received 30,699 votes (13.25%), while minor candidates accounted for the remainder. Democratic nominee Paul Johnson faced no opposition in his party's primary. Hull's general election victory on November 3, 1998, came against Johnson, with Hull receiving 620,188 votes (60.95% of the total). Johnson garnered 361,552 votes (35.53%), followed by Libertarian Katherine Gallant with 33,429 votes (3.29%) and Reform Party candidate Scott Malcomson with 6,485 votes (0.64%). The contest drew over 1,021,654 votes statewide, reflecting a of 63% among registered voters amid a robust national characterized by low and growth that favored incumbents. Hull's margin affirmed the Republican Party's hold on Arizona's governorship, even as President maintained high approval ratings nationally during his second term. Exit polling indicated her strongest support in suburban precincts, where and policy alignment on growth resonated more than demographic factors alone.

Legacy

Political Achievements and Republican Influence

Hull served as Arizona's first elected governor from 1998 to 2003, exemplifying Republican advancement of women leaders through demonstrated capability rather than identity-based mandates, thereby setting a for conservative executives nationwide. Her 1999 with four other women in statewide executive roles—forming the "Fab Five"—underscored Arizona's GOP-led integration of qualified women into top without reliance on quotas. Her administration emphasized fiscal restraint, achieving nine consecutive years of tax reductions that delivered approximately $280 million in savings to residents while initially preserving budget surpluses to buffer against downturns and fund priorities like education infrastructure. This policy framework facilitated economic momentum, including the addition of over 1,300 new business establishments in metropolitan Phoenix from 1997 to 1998, and laid foundations for high-tech sector expansion amid broader job gains. In education, Hull championed expansions, backing scholarships and proposals that enabled families to select alternatives to underperforming public schools, thereby contributing to Arizona's early model for nationwide reform debates. These initiatives, including support for grants and upheld rulings, correlated with empirical gains in metrics, especially among minority participants accessing better-resourced options.

Criticisms and Balanced Assessments

Progressives and Democratic critics faulted Hull's administration for insufficient expansion of social welfare programs, arguing that despite significant caseload reductions in (TANF) following 1996 state reforms she had championed as House Speaker—from approximately 80,000 recipients in mid-1996 to under 25,000 by 2000— (AHCCCS) enrollment growth remained constrained relative to population needs, potentially leaving vulnerable families underserved amid economic booms. These detractors, including left-leaning groups, contended that prioritized budget surpluses over broader safety nets, exacerbating inequalities for low-income and minority households without adequate compensatory investments in job training or subsidies. In land-use policy, environmentalists and growth-control advocates accused Hull of favoring real estate developers, citing her receipt of over $75,000 in campaign contributions from industry donors during her reelection and the perceived laxity of the Growing Smarter Act, which she signed to mandate basic elements like compatibility statements but was derided by outlets like Phoenix New Times as insufficiently robust to curb sprawl, allowing continued low-density development in sensitive areas. However, supporters rebutted that her vetoes of tax increases and maintenance of eight consecutive balanced budgets—achieving surpluses without burdening working families—fostered that indirectly benefited low-income residents through job growth, while the Act represented incremental progress over prior approaches, avoiding overregulation that could stifle housing supply. Hull's endorsement of English immersion via Proposition 203, which voters approved 63% to 37% in November 2000 to replace with structured one-year immersion for non-English speakers, drew partisan fire from bilingual advocates and groups like , who labeled it discriminatory for segregating students and hindering cultural preservation, though empirical studies post-implementation showed gains in English proficiency and reading scores for participants compared to prior models. Despite such critiques, her legacy elicited bipartisan respect upon her April 16, 2020 death, with tributes from Republican figures like former President praising her principled governance and Democrat Rep. lauding the Hulls' dedication to , underscoring a consensus on her steady, scandal-free tenure amid Arizona's rapid growth.

References

  1. https://www.nga.org/governor/jane-dee-hull/
  2. https://azsos.gov/about-secretary/jane-dee-hull
  3. https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2020/04/17/former-arizona-governor-jane-dee-hull-and-her-husband-terry-hull-have-died/5152662002/
  4. https://apps.azlibrary.gov/officials/Legislators/Person/686
  5. http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/CA/bios/G/9477.html
  6. https://tucson.com/news/local/article_d825bf95-b9a4-554f-8908-8fc13b1d9caa.html
  7. https://apnews.com/article/arizona-jan-brewer-executive-branch-phoenix-doug-ducey-3abda7b0813ba234d13a3175437c520e
  8. https://www.azwhf.org/inductees/jane-dee-hull
  9. https://www.azbio.org/celebrating-the-life-of-jane-dee-hull-20th-governor-of-the-state-of-arizona
  10. https://www.hansenmortuary.com/obituaries/Jane-Hull?obId=28119622
  11. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/az-gov-hull/
  12. https://www.azcentral.com/obituaries/par037211
  13. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/azcentral/name/terrance-hull-obituary?id=2135687
  14. https://kjzz.org/content/1533411/former-arizona-gov-jane-hull-dies-84
  15. https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/ascent-of-a-woman-6423124/
  16. https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/former-arizona-governor-jane-dee-hull-dies-at-age-84-12-news-has-learned/75-1304f2f4-1be0-464a-8c39-c94e1163169e
  17. https://azpbs.org/2020/04/in-memoriam-jane-hull-former-arizona-governor/
  18. https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/nodes/view/193572
  19. https://ballotpedia.org/Arizona_1978_ballot_measures
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  21. https://www.macrotrends.net/states/arizona/population
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  40. https://azeconcenter.org/lessons-from-the-past-promises-for-public-school-funding/
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  49. https://www.taxnotes.com/research/federal/other-documents/testimony-other-than-irs-and-treasury/testimony-of-arizona-gov-hull-at-unemployment-comp-reform-hearing/10lq7
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  53. https://gaming.az.gov/tribal-gaming/history
  54. https://www.nhonews.com/opinion/hull-signs-new-gaming-compacts/article_4cbcac1d-30b7-55cf-b443-1e86744678ce.html
  55. https://www.myniceplace.com/2024/09/10/the-fab-five/
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  65. https://wrrc.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/attachment/Governors-Water-Management-Commission-Recommendations.pdf
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  68. https://www.cp-dr.com/articles/node-1585
  69. https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/babbitts-secret-growth-control-plan-6417812/
  70. https://www.azauditor.gov/sites/default/files/2023-11/99-21.pdf
  71. https://ontheissues.org/Jane_Dee_Hull.htm
  72. https://www.facebook.com/ASBAFans/videos/in-memory-of-former-arizona-governor-jane-dee-hull/548939202690667/
  73. https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/developing-leadership-9780761843085/
  74. https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2020/04/17/former-gov-jane-hull-husband-die-after-long-illnesses/
  75. https://www.azcentral.com/obituaries/par037214
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  95. https://stanton.house.gov/2020/4/stanton-statement-passing-governor-jane-dee-hull-and-dr-terry-hull
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