12 Dec 15th–Dec 21st, 2022 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | music | cafe | film | culTuRe | NighT+Day | feaTuRe | NeWs | OPiNiON | feeDBacK | cONTeNTs | President Joe Biden at a semiconductor factory in Phoenix. By December 7, hump day hit Hobbs hard. She didn’t muster a single remark during a conversation with Tom Simplot, director of the Arizona Department of Housing, about the housing shortage in the state. Yet in early November, she announced her own plan for addressing affordable housing and was praised by housing advocates. At one point during the discussion, confer- ence chair and Colorado Governor Jared Polis turned to Hobbs and asked if she had any questions or comments. She looked up from her cell phone for a fleeting moment to silently shake her head no. ‘A Funky Time’ In late October, the New York Times asked the looming question, “Where’s Katie?” She had been playing her own game of “Where’s Waldo?” along the campaign trail, dodging questions from reporters and declining to participate in debates. She drew criticism from even her own supporters that her campaign was too subdued. Even after certifying her win in the gover- nor’s race, Hobbs faces lawsuits and scrutiny over a voter-registration database error that impacted more than 6,000 voters and an elec- tion day bungle that saw 31 percent of voting centers experience printer-related issues. Yet even defeating Lake, a media-savvy protégé of former President Donald Trump, wasn’t enough to break Hobbs’ habit of avoiding tough conversations and simple questions from reporters. Hobbs refused to debate Lake ahead of the election, citing her opponent’s penchant for spouting false conspiracy theories. But she also backed out of a debate with Marco Lopez in the Democratic primary. In October, Hobbs spilled her drink in a panicked attempt to flee from a conservative activist who asked her a question at a fast- food restaurant. She sprinted into a bathroom to hide. When journalists stood in the lobby of a television studio later that month, waiting to ask her questions, Hobbs rode in a freight elevator and slipped out the back door of the building. On December 7, after her appearance at the governors’ meeting, she gave Phoenix New Times the same treatment. When asked by a reporter why she didn’t actively participate in any of the panels, Hobbs said, “Can you have my office schedule some- thing? I’d rather do it that way.” When told that her office has never communicated with New Times, Hobbs told us, “Okay, I’m sorry. Thank you.” And briskly walked away. Hobbs’ campaign has never returned a phone call, voicemail, email, text message, or any other communication from New Times. On December 1, spokesperson Joe Wolf refused to answer a question about a political action committee run by a Hobbs supporter that received dubious crypto cash. Event organizers of the WGA event did their best to explain Hobbs’ belly flop. “I don’t know why she didn’t participate,” WGA Communications Director Jack Spina told New Times. “It was just a funky time having these winter meetings during an elec- tion year.” Spina suggested that Hobbs had “such a crazy schedule” and offered that she likely kept quiet because “it’s a great chance to listen and learn from the other governors.” But Hobbs, engrossed in her cell phone as each of her fellow panelists engaged in vibrant conversation, didn’t seem to be paying attention. “We are still appreciative that she made time to show up,” Spina said. | NEWS | Nap from p 9 Governor-elect Katie Hobbs rested her eyes during an event on December 7. Elias Weiss
