Votes scrutinized:
Cases involve wastewater and taxes
Two pivotal votes by former Arizona Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce are under review by state regulators, who are seeking an auditor to dig into the finances and operations of the utility that benefited. Pierce faces federal charges of bribery, fraud and conspiracy.
Two pivotal votes by former Arizona Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce are now under review by state regulators, who are seeking an auditor to dig into the finances and operations of the utility that benefited.
Pierce and his wife, Sherry, along with George Johnson of Johnson Utilities, and lobbyist Jim Norton, were indicted on federal charges of bribery, fraud and conspiracy.
According to the indictment, Pierce's wife accepted monthly checks totaling $31,000 over a year for completing frivolous tasks at a consulting firm, which was set up to hide the fact that that money was coming from Johnson.
The money was in exchange for her husband's favorable votes to raise rates charged by Johnson Utilities, according to the indictment.
Pierce, a Republican, took two key votes that led to the criminal indictment.
The first vote mentioned in the indictment was in 2011. Three commissioners approved: Pierce, Republican Bob Stump and Democrat Paul Newman.
Democrat Sandra Kennedy opposed and Republican Brenda Burns abstained.
The increase raised rates for wastewater customers an average of about $6.50 a month.
The Corporation Commission on Thursday issued a request for proposals for an auditor to review rates charged by Johnson Utilities for water and wastewater services, and to recommend whether