There are three seats up for election on the Arizona Corporation Commission in November.
Five Republicans are vying to be one of the party's nominees in the general election. Two are incumbents, and one seat is open. Commissioner Bob Stump is term-limited and cannot run again, leaving his seat open.
Bob Burns, Arizona corporation commissioner.
Just as it did two years ago, the topic of political spending by those who benefit from commission decisions is becoming a topic of discussion.
Incumbent Bob Burns is seeking re-election. This would be his final term since commissioners are limited to two four-year terms.
Burns has been outspoken about the role he thinks Arizona Public Service played in the 2014 election, alleging that the company spent millions to advocate for certain candidates through a nonprofit organization.
“I have not, at any time that I am aware of, said that APS does not have the right to spend the money," said Burns. "They have the legal right based on a Supreme Court of the United States ruling.”
He was referring to the Supreme Court decision Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which dealt with corporate campaign spending. Burns wants utilities to be clearer about their elections spending.
“What I’m looking for is transparency and reporting in a timely manner so the voters know who’s doing what," he said.
ACC Commissioner Andy TobinRecently, Burns asked the ACC to hire an independent investigator to look at undue influence inside the commission.
The request was denied, and a leading voice in the fight against it was Commissioner Andy Tobin.
Tobin, who is also seeking re-election, was concerned over possible links between the proposed investigator and the rooftop solar industry.
He also has said he wants the Corporation Commission to move on.
“I’m just tired of this owning the entire conversation when we have so many other things to point to,” he said.
He and other candidates say the rate utilities pay for excess solar energy created by rooftop solar installations is an important debate topic, but it is time to move on to other pressing issues.
“We have folks who don’t have water. Their water runs out. They have uranium in water. They have contaminants in water,” said Tobin.
ACC Candidate Al MelvinFormer Arizona Senator Al Melvin is one of the challengers in the race. He has an idea about how some water issues could be resolved.
“There are over 300 companies. Many of them are not financially well. There needs to be a consolidation into a smaller number of more viable ones," he said.
He did mention rooftop solar and that, at the very least, the utilities should honor existing agreements.
"Anyone, any family or business that made a decision with respect to buying or leasing solar panels in the past should be grandfathered in to the provisions that they made that decision on," said Melvin.
ACC Candidate Boyd DunnAnother challenger is former Maricopa County Judge and Mayor of Chandler Boyd Dunn, who said it would be tough to move forward so long as the commission is locked in on the debate over dark money and net metering.
“These allegations are being made before the dais, on the dais, between the members and things of that sort, without any basis whatsoever other than the principle itself," he said. "And it’s affecting the Corporation Commission’s ability to do the business of this state.”
His years on the bench could help get the commission working on other issues.
"It's critical for having that sort of background to help the Corporation Commission get back on track," Dunn said.
ACC Candidate RIck GrayChallenger Rick Gray is the outgoing majority whip for the Arizona House of Representatives. He questions how much influence could be wielded on an elected commissioner by a group that runs ads independently of that candidate’s campaign.
“To be honest with you, my integrity is more important than an office," he said. "If [independent expenditure] funds are going to come out in my support, what am I supposed to do? Does that mean that they own me? Absolutely not.”
He thinks the Corporation Commission needs to put the issue aside and look at issues such as rural water.
“It doesn’t get the headlines, but for them it’s crucial. And that’s what the commission should be about,” said Gray.
But to get back to dealing with utility policy in the state, the commission may first have to deal with the politics of outside money in the race.
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