As polls suggest Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s popularity is wavering, a crop of opponents from both sides of the aisle is lining up to challenge her.

Attorney General Terry Goddard, Tucson attorney John Munger and Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker lead the pack of contenders that will challenge Brewer in the 2010 Arizona gubernatorial race.

Brewer, who was inaugurated in the wake of former Gov. Janet Napolitano’s appointment as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, announced last week she would be running for another term.

Since taking office, Brewer has taken heavy criticism from other Republicans for her handling of the state’s budget deficit, which has now reached $2 billion.

The passage of a final, balanced budget has been delayed by a five-month-long standoff between Brewer, who wants to ask voters whether or not to temporarily increase the sales tax by 1 cent, and Republican legislators, who want to cut spending in order to cover the shortfall.

“Gov. Brewer inherited from former Gov. Napolitano a complete fiscal mess,” said Brewer campaign spokesman Doug Cole. “She was thrust into this [position], and she’s going to do the right thing.”

Brewer’s most prominent opponent to date is Arizona Attorney General Goddard, a Democrat, who filed paperwork to form an exploratory committee on Friday.

Goddard’s supporters have been bolstered by recent polls by Rasmussen Reports and Public Policy Polling, which show he leads Brewer by a margin of 42 to 35 percent and 46 to 36 percent, respectively. Brewer’s campaign dismissed the polls as irrelevant.

“All polls right now are meaningless,” Cole said, because the election is too far in the future.

Representatives of Goddard’s campaign could not be reached for comment.

Brewer’s approval ratings, as measured by an October KAET/Eight poll, showed 39 percent of voters approve of the job she is doing, 39 percent disapprove and 22 percent don’t know or have no opinion. Additionally, 51 percent of those voters said they are in favor of her proposed temporary sales tax increase.

Munger, a former president of the Arizona Board of Regents, said the political posturing between Brewer and the Legislature has put Arizona in its precarious state.

“It’s time for the state to get past the professional politicians,” Munger said. “It’s time for the state to be run by people in the business world who understand economics.”

Munger and opponent Parker, who owns a Scottsdale-based consulting firm, are part of a growing cadre of business-oriented, fiscally conservative Republicans unhappy with Brewer’s performance.

“The state is headed in the wrong direction,” Munger added. “[Brewer] is promoting increasing taxes while what we should be doing is cutting business taxes, promoting growth of jobs and infusing capital into the state.”

In an interview with State Press columnist Hal Cohen last month, Parker suggested the state follow in Nevada’s footsteps by eliminating the state corporate income tax, which he said would encourage growth and increase revenue in the long run.

Jason Rose, a spokesman for Parker’s campaign, said the current Paradise Valley mayor will offer a fresh alternative for voters unhappy with current politicians from both sides.

“I think you’re going to see incumbents in a lot of trouble in next year’s races,” Rose said. “People are going to be looking for an outsider, … and no one embodies that better than Mayor Parker.”

State Treasurer Dean Martin, a Republican who has been heavily critical of Brewer, said he is “seriously considering” the position and is concerned about Brewer’s ability to beat Goddard in a general election.

“My interest is in making sure [Republicans] win the seat,” Martin said. “I don’t want to be treasurer under Terry Goddard.”

Martin said he is dissatisfied with Brewer’s performance, which he believes has cost the state millions of dollars.

“She’s been holding the budget hostage for her sales tax referral,” Martin said. “We need a balanced budget. Every day that goes by, money is going out the door that can’t be replaced.”

Brewer’s campaign maintained that she isn’t intimidated by the opposition or criticism within her party. Cole said he is confident voters will see Brewer’s experience and perseverance as important assets.

“Jan Brewer’s 28-year political career was not based on telling people what they wanted to hear,” Cole said. “These are tough times, and she’s a tough leader.”

Reach the reporter at derek.quizon@asu.edu.