“Article 15 of the Arizona Constitution establishes the Arizona Corporation Commission. Only 7 states have constitutionally formed Commissions. Arizona is one of only 13 states with elected Commissioners. In the 37 other states, Commissioners are appointed by either the governor or the legislature.In most states, the Commission is known as the Public Service Commission or the Public Utility Commission. Our Commission, however, has responsibilities that go beyond traditional public utilities regulation. These additional roles include facilitating the incorporation of businesses and organizations, securities regulation and railroad/pipeline safety. By virtue of the Arizona Constitution, the Commissioners function in an Executive capacity, they adopt rules and regulations thereby functioning in a Legislative capacity, and they also act in a Judicial capacity sitting as a tribunal and making decisions in contested matters.” (from their website, www.acc.gov)

Current incumbent Commissioner Gary Pierce is running for re-election, along with candidates Democrat David Bradley (LD 28 House Rep.), Republican Brenda Burns (former State Senator and State Rep.), Democrat Jorge Luis Garcia (current LD 27 State Senator & Senate Minority Leader). Also running are Green Party candidate Theodore Gomez, and Libertarian Rick Fowlkes, a consulting engineer/businessman.

Campaign websites:

David Bradley (D), www.bradleyforarizona.com

Brenda Burns (R), www.brendaburns2010.com

Rick Fowlkes (L), www.rfowlkes.com

Jorge Luis Garcia (D), www.votegarcia.org

Theodore Gomez (G)

Gary Pierce (R), www.garypierceforarizona.com, incumbent

There are 2 openings on the Corporation Commission. View these online debates or attend the upcoming forum in Tucson, to decide whom to vote for of the 6 candidates.

Arizona Citizens Clean Elections, Monday Oct. 4, 7 p.m. on Horizon KAET Channel 8 (view online at www.azpbs.org/vote2010, or within 72 hours of the debate at http://www.azcleanelections.gov/home/video/generaldebatevids2010.aspx. Bradley, Burns & Pierce running “clean”, rest are running traditionally.

Also, in Tucson (live):

League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson, American Association of University Women (AAUW), & Sustainable Tucson forum
on October 6, 6:30p.m.
at Temple Emanu-El, 225 N. Country Club Rd. (north of Broadway Blvd.)

And if you missed it, view the KUAT Channel 6 debate between these candidates (Bradley, Burns & Pierce), which was held on September 30 at www.ondemand.azpm.org/ (click here). Senate Minority leader Garcia was absent, due to health issues per host Bill Buckmaster. No explanation was given as to why the Green & Libertarian candidates were absent (not sure if they were invited).

10/15/10 UPDATE: sad news that LD 27 State Senator Jorge Luis Garcia passed away today. If you view the CCEC video, you can see that he was visibly ill (due to a heart condition).

David Bradley

Brenda Burns

Rick Fowlkes

Jorge Luis Garcia

Photo of Green candidate Theodore Gomez not available.

Commissioner
Gary Pierce

Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission schedule for upcoming General Election debates:

Statewide races, all telecast on KAET Horizon Channel 8 in Phoenix, to be posted online at their website within 72 hours after the debates. D indicates Democrat, G indicates Green Party, I indicates Independent, L indicates Libertarian, R indicates Republican. Most of these candidates will be invited, but not all attend the debates, as it’s only mandatory for those participating in “clean” elections. To find out who’s a participating candidate, click here.

Governor
September 1, 7 to 8 p.m.
(Governor Jan Brewer – R, Larry Gist- G, Attorney General Terry Goddard- D, Barry Hess- L)

Attorney General (9/3/10 UPDATE: DEBATE CANCELED DUE TO NEITHER BEING A “CLEAN” ELECTIONS CANDIDATE).
September 8, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(Tom Horne- R, Felecia Rotellini – D)

Superintendent of Public Instruction
September 15, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(John Huppenthal -R, Penny Kotterman- D)

Secretary of State
September 22, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(Sec. of State Ken Bennett – R, Chris Deschene – D)

Treasurer (9/3/10 UPDATE: DEBATE CANCELED DUE TO NEITHER BEING “CLEAN” ELECTIONS CANDIDATE).
September 29, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(Doug Ducey – R, Andrei Cherny – D)

Corporation Commission (2 seats)
October 4, 7 to 7:30 p.m.
(Commissioner Gary Pierce – R, David Bradley – D, Brenda Burns – R, Jorge Luis Garcia – D)

State Mine Inspector
October 06, 2010, 7 PM – 7:30 PM
(Inspector Joe Hart – R, Miguel Cruz – D)

Legislative Districts (Southern Arizona), all “Clean” candidates in House & Senate are required to participate, and others running traditionally may do as well. One seat is open in the State Senate, two seats in the State House in each legislative district.

District 26 (9/3/10 UPDATE:DEBATE CANCELED AS ALL CANDIDATES NOT PARTICIPATING IN CLEAN ELECTIONS, RUNNING TRADITIONALLY)
September 16, 6 p.m.
PCC Northwest Campus, 7600 N. Shannon Rd.
(State Senate: Cheryl Cage – D, Senator Al Melvin – R;
State House: Terri Proud – R, Rep. Vic Williams- R, Rep. Nancy Young Wright – D)

District 27
September 9, 6 p.m.
PCC West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Rd.
(State Senate: Olivia Cajero Bedford- D, Duke Schechter- R is a write-in candidate,as is Jaime Vasquez – R; State House: Gene Chewning – I, Robert Compton – R, Sally Ann Gonzales – D, Dr. Macario Saldate – D, Kent Solberg – G)

District 28
September 14, 6 p.m.
PCC Community Room, 4905 E. Broadway
(State Senate: Senator Paula Aboud – D, Ted Downing – I, Dave Ewoldt – I, Greg Krino – R;
State House: Rep. Steve Farley – D, Ken Smalley- R, Bruce Wheeler- D)

District 29
September 28, 6 p.m.
PCC Community Room, 4905 E. Broadway
(State Senate: Senator Linda Lopez – D, unopposed;
(State House: Rep. Matt Heinz – D, Pat Kilburn – R, Rep. Daniel Patterson – D)

District 30
September 30, 6 p.m.
PCC East Campus, 8181 E. Irvington
(State Senate: Senator Frank Antenori – R, Dr. Todd Camenisch – D;
State House: Andrea Dalessandro – D, Rep. David Gowan – R, and Rep. Ted Vogt -R)

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Both of the larger Pima County political parties are planning post-primary election “unity” events this weekend:

–Republican Unity event & Meet the GOP candidates– expected to attend: Governor Jan Brewer, U.S. Senator John McCain, and Congressional District 7 (CD 7) candidate Ruth McClung and CD 8 candidate Jesse Kelly, along with statewide candidates for Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Corporation Commission, and State Mine Inspector. The candidates who won the Republican primary for those respective races in order are: Ken Bennett, Tom Horne?, Doug Ducey, John Huppenthal, Gary Pierce and Brenda Burns, and Joe Hart. (AG candidate Tom Horne is leading by 433 votes, with provisional ballots still being counted in Maricopa County).

Also attending will be Southern Arizona candidates in the State Senate and House (LD 26, 27, 28, 29, & 30) and some judges.

Date: Friday August 27
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Place: Historic Manning House
450 W. Paseo Redondo in downtown Tucson (west of Granada Avenue)
Light refreshments/cash bar
RSVP: pimagop.secretary@gmail.com
phone: 520-398-4755 (Leave message)

–Democratic Unity Party
Join the Arizona Pipe Trades Local 469 and the Pima County Democratic Party for a barbecue picnic at Himmel Park to celebrate DEMOCRATIC UNITY!
Date: Saturday, August 28
Time:11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Place:Himmel Park (near northeast corner of the park & the Himmel Park Branch Library, 1035 N. Treat Ave.)
Contact:Jason McDonald
Phone:(602) 626-8805
RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=110737635640131

No word if Gubernatorial candidate (and current Attorney General) Terry Goddard will be at the Saturday picnic, but he is scheduled to speak at the Democrats of Greater Tucson 2010 Awards Luncheon the next day on August 29. That event will be at the Marriott University Park Hotel at 11 to 2 p.m. Not too late to RSVP for $40 lunch tickets ($45 at the door), call the Pima County Democratic Party at 520-326-3716 and speak with Cheryl Rogers. Website: http://www.actblue.com/page/dgt-awards-luncheon.