Arizona Corporation Commission Candidates to Debate Issues That Impact All
Arizona Citizens
Live in Tempe - Webcast - Cable TV - Online Discussion Forum
PHOENIX, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The cost of electric and natural gas!
High speed Internet to rural communities! Solar, nuclear and other alternative
energy sources! Water quality! The safety of the pipelines that carry oil and
gasoline across the state! Consumer protection! Arizona's investment in
utility infrastructure! These are among the issues to be debated at the
September 15, 2008 General Election debates for candidates for the Arizona
Corporation Commission. Voters are encouraged to learn more about the powerful
Corporation Commission, often described as a Fourth Branch of Government, and
to see the candidates debate the issues that have an enormous impact on
Arizona's future and the finances, safety and quality of life of all citizens,
businesses and organizations in Arizona.
Participation couldn't be easier. The public can engage in person at Rio
Salado College in Tempe, logon to the real-time and the on-demand webcasts,
tune in to Cox Cable and other cable and broadcast media after the debates,
propose debate questions on the web site, and discuss issues online.
Ron Schott, Chair of the Arizona Telecommunications and Information
Council, emphasized the importance for all voters to participate. "The Arizona
Corporation Commission (ACC), an independent regulatory authority created by
the Arizona Constitution, impacts residential utility customers, schools,
governments, nonprofits, the elderly, low income families, large and small
businesses, and utility companies and investors. They set the rates you pay
for public utilities including telecommunications, water, electric, and
natural gas services. Commission policies also determine the quality of these
services and future utility infrastructure investments, including high speed
Internet to rural communities and solar, nuclear, and other alternative energy
sources
The debates will cover all the services regulated by the Commission. In
addition to regulation of utilities, the Commission protects buyers and
sellers of stocks, bonds and other securities from investment scams and fraud.
They oversee corporations including granting corporate status for businesses
and organizations, maintaining public records and monitoring the integrity of
Arizona businesses and organizations. Railroad safety and the safe operations
of pipelines that move gas and oil across the state are also under their
jurisdiction.
There are 5 Commissioners elected by the public to a four-year term. Three
Republicans, Marian McClure, Bob Stump and Barry Wong, and, three Democrats,
Sam George, Sandra Kennedy and Paul Newman, are in competition for three open
seats on the Commission.
These nonpartisan debates, sponsored by the Arizona Citizens Clean
Elections Commission, are presented by the Arizona Telecommunications and
Information Council (ATIC) in cooperation with an impressive list of other
business and community organizations. The debates will be moderated by Mark
Goldstein, ATIC Board Secretary and a past Chairman of the group, as well as
President of the International Research Center (IRC) located in Tempe.
The General Election debate will be presented live September 15 at Rio
Salado College, 2323 West 14th Street in Tempe and available for viewing by
webcast during and after the debate. Registration begins at 12:00 and the
debate runs from 1:00 pm. - 3:00 pm. A Candidate reception will follow the
debate from 3:00 pm. - 4:00 pm. Persons needing Sign and Spanish language
interpreters, or other special needs, may request a reasonable accommodation
by contacting ATIC. The Democratic and Republican Primary Debates were held on
July 15, 2008 and are now available for viewing by Webcast and Cable TV.
For information and reservations see the website at
http://www.tucsonlink.org/ACCDebates2008/ or contact, Steve Peters, Debate
Coordinator, (520) 321-1309 stevepeters@tucsonlink.org or Mark Goldstein
(602) 254-5887 or atic@researchedge.com.
Presented By
Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council
http://www.arizonatele.com/atic/
ATIC is Arizona's recognized and authoritative organization guiding
technology policy development, serving as a leading source of information and
expertise on telecommunications and information technology matters. ATIC
develops, promotes and supports initiatives and guides adoption of effective
public policies that encourages wide-scale deployment and availability of
telecommunications services and information technologies to ensure economic
prosperity for the Arizona community, expand the region's global competitive
advantage, enable continued educational advancement and support an enhanced
quality of life. More information on ATIC, its activities and events can be
found on the web site at: http://www.researchedge.com/atic/, or contact
atic@researchedge.com or (602) 254-5887
Citizens Clean Elections Commission (CCEC)
http://www.ccec.state.az.us/
The Citizens Clean Elections Act is a campaign finance reform measure that
was initiated by Arizona citizens and passed by voters in 1998. The Act
created a new campaign financing system that provides full public funding to
qualified candidates who agree to abide by Citizens Clean Elections Commission
(CCEC) guidelines. Candidates for statewide offices (governor, secretary of
state, state treasurer, attorney general, superintendent of public
instruction, corporation commissioner or mine inspector) and legislative
offices (house of representatives and senate) are eligible to participate in
the public funding program.
SOURCE Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council
Steve Peters, Debate Coordinator, +1-520-321-1309, stevepeters@tucsonlink.org,
for Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council
