The 4 indicted in the bribery case
Gary Pierce: Served on the Arizona Corporation Commission from 2007-14, including as chairman. Also served as a majority whip of the Arizona House of Representatives and as a Yuma County supervisor. He is a former teacher and business owner. Among his more controversial votes on the commission was the 2013 decision to begin charging a special monthly fee to solar users for APS. It was among the first such charges in the country. Jim Norton: The lobbyist has represented myriad clients with his current partners at Axiom Public Affairs and previously with R&R Partners. Clients have included the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the city of Phoenix, APS, the Arizona Auto Dealers Association, the Arizona Coyotes and Raytheon Co., according to state records. George Johnson: The owner of Johnson Utilities has been involved in several high-profile matters considering the small size of his utility, which has about 20,000 customers. Last year, state environmental regulators warned that water from his company was unsafe for infants. Johnson also was involved, in 2007, in a record settlement with the state for $12.1 million for environmental damages. A report earlier this year said the utility ranked No. 2 in violations among the state’s 10 largest water systems with at least one violation. Sherry Pierce: The wife of Gary Pierce has her own political connections, as does their son, Justin, who served as a state representative and unsuccessfully ran for secretary of state in 2014. Sherry Pierce served as the deputy district director for former U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon and held that same position for U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs.