GOP keeps lock on Corporation Commission

Republicans Tom Forese and Doug Little were running well ahead of Democrats Sandra Kennedy and Jim Holway with most precincts reporting Tuesday night.

The five-member Arizona Corporation Commission regulates utilities, corporations, securities sales and pipeline and railroad safety.

Renewable energy was a big issue in the race. Kennedy painted the Republicans as foes of solar energy, citing moves by the current all-Republican commission to increase charges on customers with rooftop solar.

Kennedy, who served on the commission for one term before losing a re-election bid in 2012, and Holway also opposed a state Revenue Department policy that imposes property taxes on home solar installations.

Running as a ticket, Forese and Little said they supported renewable energy as part of a balanced portfolio of energy resources, with an overarching goal of keeping energy costs down. Forese is a state representative from Chandler who heads a marketing firm. Little, of Scottsdale, is a former software company executive.

The Republicans won despite criticism of their backing by so-called “dark money” groups and admitting to improper campaign spending.

In the GOP primary, Forese and Little defeated Vernon Parker and Lucy Mason — who were backed by the rooftop solar industry — in part thanks to spending by groups believed to have links to the Arizona Public Service Co., which is regulated by the commission.

Those groups spent more than $1 million to defeat Parker and Mason, but Little and Forese denied knowing about the funding. APS would neither confirm nor deny links to the groups, but defended its right to contribute to political causes.

In mid-October, Forese and Little agreed to pay $1,000 each to settle charges by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission that the duo spent some money before they actually had the cash and violated some reporting rules.

Holway, a former assistant director of the state Department of Water Resources, petitioned the Corporation Commission to require utilities to report contributions intended to influence commission elections.

Tucson-area residents didn’t get much of a chance to get up close with the Forese or Little.

The two Republicans snubbed several debates, including one planned in Tucson last month by the League of Women Voters. Neither answered a candidate questionnaire for the Star or responded to reporters’ calls.