Corporation Commission race is too close to call
Two Republicans and a Democrat were leading early Wednesday in the six-way race for three seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission, which sets rates and policies for utilities, including how much renewable energy they use.
Democrat Anna Tovar along with Republicans Lea Márquez Peterson and Jim O’Connor held the top spots as of early Wednesday.
The margins between candidates was small. The down-ballot race frequently sees lead changes as votes are tallied. In 2018, for example, when two seats were on the ballot, the difference between the second- and third-place candidates was about 4,500 votes.
If two Republicans win, the commission’s recent decision to boost renewable-energy requirements for the first time in 14 years and force utilities to produce100% carbon free energy in Arizona could be reversed. Márquez Peterson opposed the measure last week, and O’Connor said he opposes any such mandates. Two Republicans who voted for that increase are leaving office this year. Three votes are needed to pass measures on the five-member commission.
If Democrats take the majority on the commission with two or three wins this year, it would represent a massive change for the body, as they could amend policies such as how customers with rooftop solar are credited for their surplus electricity, or increase the amount of renewable energy electric companies must procure.
The commission consists of five elected officials who set rates and policies for electric, gas and water utilities. They also oversee railroad crossings, pipeline safety and securities.
Much of their time is spent on major utility rate requests for companies such as Arizona Public Service Co. and Tucson Electric Power Co., but they also grapple with policies such as the state’s renewable-energy rules and whether customers should be allowed to choose between electricity providers.
Democrats on the ballot this year favor increasing renewable-energy requirements on utilities, while the Republicans generally oppose such mandates, except for one currently on the commission who supports more carbon-free power sources of both renewables and nuclear.
Arizonans currently have no choice in who provides their electric service. It is determined by their address and which utility serves that territory. But the commission is reviewing a change that could allow competitive electricity providers to offer services to Arizonans, and the newly elected commissioners likely will make a decision on that issue of electric retail competition.
Three seats on the commission are on the ballot this year and voters may cast
three votes, but with two sitting commissioners not on the ballot, two new members are guaranteed, and three could be new if the one sitting commissioner on the ballot doesn’t win.
The other seats on the commission will be on the 2022 ballot.
The current makeup of the commission is four Republicans and one Democrat.
The current chairman, Republican Robert Burns, is termed out. Republican Boyd Dunn failed to qualify for the ballot during the pandemic, leaving open his seat after serving one term.
The candidates on the ballot are:
● Republican Lea Márquez Peterson, who Gov. Doug Ducey appointed to the commission in 2019 and now must win election to keep her seat. She served as director of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce until 2018, and quit to run a public affairs firm.
Democrat William “Bill” Mundell, who previously served nine years on the commission and the state Legislature, as a Republican, and co-authored the renewable-energy standard that required utilities to get 15% of their power from renewable sources by 2025.
● Republican Jim O’Connor, who succeeded in a rare write-in campaign to land a spot on the general election ballot. The political newcomer lost a primary in 2018 running for the commission and didn’t plan to run again until the Republicans found themselves short of a full slate following signature challenges that kept other candidates off the ballot this year.
● Republican Eric Sloan, who also lost a primary bid for the commission in 2018 and is running again. He runs Sloan Lyons public relations firm with his wife and previously held jobs at Arizona State University and the state Department of Gaming.
● Democrat Shea Stanfield, a former Cave Creek Town Council member and retired teacher who taught various grades from kindergarten through high school in Scottsdale.
● Democrat Anna Tovar, who is finishing her term as Tolleson mayor, and previously worked as a grade-school teacher in her hometown and as a lawmaker.
Commissioners serve four-year terms and earn about $80,000 annually, and can hire policy advisers and assistants to help them wade through the dozens of cases they review each month.