by Will Greene

Word might be getting out.  The Arizona Corporation Commission, widely regarded as a lower-tier agency in terms of attention, is receiving heavy interest from a bevy of candidates eying its two open seats in 2014.  Fifteen months before any voting will take place, five candidates have formed exploratory committees, with more likely on the way.

Ryan Randazzo reported Tuesday night that Republican state Rep. Frank Pratt, who chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, annou...

Hello liberals,

Notice the time change: next week will meet at 7 PM!

Our special guest for Wednesday Drinking Liberally at the Shanty on 4th Ave will start the presentation at 7:30pm, right after his lecture at the U of A School of Journalism. He is in a book tour around the country and will be in Tucson just for one day. Don't miss this opportunity!

Peter Eichstaedt is the former country director in Afghanistan and former Africa Editor for the Institute for War and Peace Reporting. He has lived...

by Will Greene

Ryan Randazzo of the Arizona Republic is reporting that Arizona Corporation Commissioner Brenda Burns will not seek a second term at the ACC, Arizona’s utility-regulatory body.  Burns was elected in 2010 along with Commissioner Gary Pierce, and since that time has been viewed by many as an actively anti-solar commissioner. 

Burns’ legacy to Arizona’s energy system will include a May 2012 amendment that added a new fee for families and businesses planning to install solar,...

April3 Update: New events have been added for April 6 and 9.

It’s only April 1, but already there is an impressive line-up of progressive events taking shape this month. In addition to these educational events, there are multiple fund-raisers for candidates, parties, and causes in April.  The list below is not meant to be all-inclusive. (Check out Facebook and the Pima County Democratic Party calendar or the calendar on Blog for Arizona for other events-- including multiple opportunities...

by Will Greene

Jim Holway, a prominent advocate for water sustainability has indicated interest in a run for the Arizona Corporation Commission in 2014 according to jimholway.com.  This would make him the first non-incumbent 2014 ACC candidate to form an exploratory committee.  Two seats are open in next years mid-term contest, with Commissioner Gary Pierce terming off the Commission, and Commissioner Brenda Burns presumably running for re-election assuming she doesn’t throw her hat in for a...