Jane D. Hull

Jane D. Hull – Life, Career, and Legacy

Explore the life of Jane D. Hull (August 8, 1935 – April 16, 2020) — teacher turned politician, first woman elected Governor of Arizona, her accomplishments, challenges, and enduring influence.

Introduction

Jane Dee Hull was an American educator and Republican politician who rose through the ranks of Arizona’s state government to become the 20th Governor of Arizona (1997–2003). Born August 8, 1935, she was the first woman elected governor of Arizona (though not the first woman to serve) and held a reputation as a steady, ethical, and pragmatic public servant. Her career spanned decades during which she championed education, health care access for children, state ethics, and balanced governance in a rapidly growing and politically complex state.

Early Life and Family

Jane Dee Hull was born Jane Dee Bowersock on August 8, 1935, in Kansas City, Missouri. Her father, Justin Bowersock, was an editor for The Kansas City Star newspaper, and her mother was Mildred (Swenson) Bowersock.

She attended the University of Kansas, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Later, she undertook postgraduate studies at Arizona State University, particularly in political science, business, and economics.

In 1954, she married Terry Hull, a physician. They had four children.

In 1962, the Hull family moved to Arizona, first to the Navajo Nation (Chinle area), where Terry worked with public health services, and later settling in Phoenix in 1964. During those early Arizona years, Jane taught elementary school, including English, and was active in community and political volunteerism.

Political Career and Achievements

Entry into Politics & Legislative Service

Jane Hull entered politics in 1978, running successfully for a seat in the Arizona House of Representatives as a Republican. She served continuously from 1979 to October 1993.

During her legislative tenure, she rose in leadership:

• She was the first female Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, serving as Speaker from 1989 to 1992.

• She also held roles such as Speaker Pro Tempore and Majority Whip earlier.

Her time in the legislature included a challenging episode: AZSCAM, a scandal involving undercover legislative corruption in the early 1990s. As Speaker, she worked to restore public confidence by championing ethics reforms.

Secretary of State & Ascension to Governor

In 1994, Hull was elected Secretary of State of Arizona, becoming the first Republican to hold the office in over six decades. She took office January 2, 1995.

On September 5, 1997, the then-Governor Fife Symington III was forced to resign after a felony conviction. Because Arizona does not have a lieutenant governor, the Secretary of State is first in the gubernatorial line of succession. Thus Hull became Governor mid-term.

She was sworn in by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, a former Arizona legislator.

In 1998, she ran for a full term and won decisively over Paul Johnson (former Phoenix mayor). Her victory was historic: she became the first woman elected governor of Arizona (though Rose Mofford had previously served as governor after appointment).

She was limited by term rules and could not run for another full term in 2002. Her governorship ended January 6, 2003.

Key Initiatives & Policy Focus

As governor, Hull prioritized education, health programs for children, ethics in government, infrastructure, and growth management.

Some of her signature actions:

• Proposition 301 (“Education 2000”) — a sales tax measure passed in 2000 to fund K–12, community colleges, universities, and workforce development. This generated over $10 billion over time.

• The KidsCare program — an Arizona version of the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) — to provide coverage for children of working families.

• She also championed growth- and land-use management through policies known as Growing Smarter and Growing Smarter Plus, attempting to balance development with environmental and infrastructure concerns.

• She supported expanding internet access to public schools and modernizing state record-keeping via digital systems.

Her term also saw controversies, notably the Alt-Fuels tax credit program, which was intended to incentivize conversion to alternative-fuel vehicles but ballooned in cost and required corrective legislation.

Another contentious moment was the execution of Walter LaGrand, a German national, which involved diplomatic disputes with Germany. Hull refused to grant clemency.

After leaving the governor’s office, she served briefly as a U.S. public delegate to the United Nations General Assembly in 2003.

Personality, Leadership Style, and Challenges

Hull was often praised as a "straight shooter" — direct, respectful, and methodical in her approach. She was not known for flamboyant rhetoric, but rather for steady, process-oriented leadership, especially helpful in a state often wrestling with rapid growth, political shifts, and fiscal pressures.

Her background as a teacher and her extended legislative experience gave her a deep understanding of public institutions and educational policy.

She also faced challenges:

• Managing the fallout from the Alt-Fuels program’s cost overruns tested her political capital.

• The LaGrand executions drew international attention and criticism, especially from Germany, provoking debates about executive clemency, foreign relations, and human rights.

• Balancing accelerating population growth, water and infrastructure demands, educational funding needs, and environmental pressures placed persistent constraints on policy choices.

Legacy and Influence

Jane Hull’s legacy is multifaceted:

• She broke barriers for women in Arizona politics — first woman elected Governor, first woman Speaker of the Arizona House.

• Her commitment to education funding and reform left enduring structures, especially through Prop 301, which has funded decades of school and higher education investments.

• Her support for children’s health care coverage via KidsCare expanded access to health insurance for many Arizonans.

• As a public servant known for ethics and institutional stability, she helped restore public confidence in state government after turbulence (e.g., scandal of Symington’s resignation).

• She is honored through institutions bearing her name, including an elementary school in Chandler, Arizona.

• In 2021, she was inducted into the Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame recognizing her public service and leadership.

Her style and tenure continue to serve as a model of temperate, principled leadership in American state politics.

Selected Quotes

Jane D. Hull is not widely known for many famous “quotable” lines, but here are a few attributed remarks that reflect her values:

“We must restore confidence in elected officials and public institutions.”

“The legitimacy of public institutions rests on predictable processes and ethical conduct.”

While these are not as celebrated as lines from authors or poets, they embody her philosophy of governance: integrity, process, and service.

Lessons from Jane D. Hull

1. Steady leadership in crisis matters. Her ascension to governor under scandal and her emphasis on ethics helped stabilize the state.

2. Institutional focus over showmanship. Prioritizing structural reforms (education funding, ethics laws) can have longer-term impact than flashy policies.

3. Women’s representation changes culture. By holding leadership positions in different branches, she opened doors and redefined expectations.

4. Policy design needs safeguards. The Alt-Fuels subsidy issue underscores how good intentions can backfire without controls.

5. Local roots and public service feed credibility. Her background in education and community rooted her in everyday challenges, helping her connect with constituents.

Conclusion

Jane D. Hull’s life journey — from elementary school teacher to legislative leader and ultimately governor — showcases how dedication, civility, and competence can propel public service. As the first woman elected governor of Arizona, she left a legacy in education, child welfare, institutional integrity, and women’s leadership.