Secretary of State Jan Brewer is accepting applications to fill a soon-to-be-open seat on the Citizens Clean Elections Commission.

“It is my sincere hope that we can find a qualified and responsible candidate who will work hard and provide loyal service on behalf of the citizens of Arizona,” said Mrs. Brewer in a press release. “I am very interested in candidates who can bring fairness and consistency to this process.”

The term of Commissioner Kathleen Detrick, an independent from Pima County, is set to expire on Dec. 31. Ms. Detrick was appointed to the CCEC in 2001 by Janet Napolitano, while serving as attorney general.

By law, no more than two commissioners on the five-member panel may be from the same political party and must be from two different Arizona counties. Due to the current balance on the commission, Mrs. Brewer must select a candidate from outside Maricopa County who is not a registered Democrat.

Currently there are two Democrats, two independents and one Republican on the Citizens Clean Elections Commission.

Candidates also must not have been appointed, elected to or run for any public office or served as an officer for a political party within the past five years. Commissioners are forbidden from holding any office, serving as a political party officer or lobbyist during their term and for three years after their tenure on the commission expires.

Assistant Secretary of State Kevin Tyne said that he has not heard of any applications being received yet, but that he expects to see some within the next couple of weeks. Those interested have until Dec. 30 to apply, he said.

Commissioners are named by current ranking statewide officeholders, alternating between Democrat and Republican.

The CCEC was created by the Clean Elections Act passed by voters in 1998. The act provides public funding for legislative and statewide office campaigns to qualified candidates.

The five-year term for the new commissioner will begin on Feb. 1, 2006.