Ousted Arizona Governor Aids His Successor

PHOENIX — Disgraced Gov. Fife Symington met Thursday with his successor to discuss key issues she will inherit when he is officially ousted for his conviction on federal fraud charges.

Symington, compelled to resign after a jury found him guilty Wednesday of bank fraud, will leave office at 5 p.m. today. Jane Hull, secretary of state since 1994, will be acting governor until she is formally sworn in Monday.

Symington and a trio of aides met with Hull in his office to talk about a range of subjects she will face as Arizona’s 20th governor. Topics ranged from pressing matters, such as the state takeover of a bankrupt mental health contractor, to the mundane, such as ordering stationery.

“There was no, ‘This is what I’m doing and what I want you to be,’ ” said Hull, who like Symington is a Republican.

Symington kept a low profile Thursday, working in his office.

Symington planned to come to the office today before leaving in the afternoon with his wife, Ann, on a two-week vacation. Aides refused to disclose their destination.

Symington spent the waning hours of his six-year administration fielding phone calls from other governors, friends and supporters around the nation, spokesman Robert Johnson said.