Brewer includes ‘non-public’ events on public schedule

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Just weeks after an unannounced visit to support a proposed copper mine in Florence drew criticism for Gov. Jan Brewer, the Governor’s Office began listing “non-public” appearances on her public schedule.

Brewer’s public schedule this week includes two events that are listed as being “closed to the media at host’s request.” Brewer spokesman Matthew Benson said the office typically doesn’t list events that are closed to the press, “but we are trying to give you as clear a picture as possible as the governor’s public activities.”

Benson said the office will likely list such closed events on a regular basis in the future.

On Aug. 2, Brewer attended an invitation-only meeting in Florence hosted by Curis Resources, a Canadian mining company that is seeking the town council’s approval for a controversial copper mine. The event was not included on Brewer’s public schedule, which Benson said was because it was not a public event.

But Brewer faced criticism for not publicly disclosing her involvement before the event because Curis is represented by the lobbying and consulting firm HighGround, which has close ties with the governor and has run Brewer’s political campaigns since 1996.

Benson told reporters that the change in Brewer’s public schedule was not prompted by the flap over the copper mine.

“It’s not in response to anything. It’s just an effort to be as transparent as we can,” Benson said.

Two non-public events listed on Brewer’s schedule were a speech this morning at the Arizona Commanders Summit, a forum of Arizona military commanders, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson; and a Thursday evening speech at an Arizona Republican Party fundraiser at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort.