Corporation Commission needs members who advocate for consumers

I am running for the Arizona Corporation Commission. I have dubbed it the CORRUPTION Commission, and it is time to return some integrity and dignity to the commission. It was formed to protect consumers from the monopolies, but unfortunately, the folks who have been elected and appointed have provided little to no protection.

My prior experience includes 12 years in the Arizona Legislature — six in the House and six in the Senate. I was also elected to the Phoenix Union High School Governing Board for a four-year term and served on the Arizona Corporation Commission from 2009 to 2013.

As your next corporation commissioner, I will continue to call out and stop the corruption on the panel. It’s unethical, possibly illegal. It is costing Arizona ratepayers and voters too much money, and perhaps our democracy.

APS/Pinnacle West has spent millions of ratepayer dollars from its unjust and unjustified rate increases to influence elections, from the commission to the executive branch and the legislative branch. This includes the millions spent to prevent me from returning to the commission because of my history of standing up for ratepayers and consumers and opposing efforts to prevent rooftop solar in Arizona.

Two of my opponents are parroting APS’ talking points on Proposition 127 without questioning APS’ narrative. This betrays what they will do if they get elected.

They also claim to be against “mandates,” but are silent on the mandates the panel has granted APS: automatic fuel charges, an increase in basic hookup fees and smart-meter opt-out fees, which reduce APS’ risks. APS also got its anti-solar mandates, including ending net metering and the implementation of a $50 surcharge for installing solar.

The commission is corrupted by commissioners who parrot what APS wants. These APS parrots also vote to give APS any rate increases it wants regardless of the rationale or evidence.

If these two candidates are elected, we will see more of the same. We don’t need more APS parrots! We need commissioners who will stand up for consumers. Despite being appointed to the commission a year ago, Justin Olson has done nothing to help APS customers from the unjustified rate increase.

My platform includes removing the corruption, preventing unjustified rate increases and making Arizona the solar capital of the world.

I want to fix the broken corporations division so that paperwork is once again processed quickly and efficiently.

I want the commission to fill longterm staff vacancies that have caused the work to slow and to give the staff well-deserved raises, which they haven’t had in years despite Chairman Tom Forese’s funneling $100,000 to waste on “special projects.”

In my first 100 days, I plan to:

Join Commissioner Robert Burns in his request to get APS/Pinnacle West to open up their books to see what their expenditures are on political races;

Fight to restore net metering and give a fair rate;

Keep all Arizonans informed about the inner workings at the Corporation Commission, and call out any corruption I see.

Thanking you in advance for your support and your vote.