Sun City lawmaker to run for Corporation Commission

Rep. Rick Gray, R-Sun City, is running for a seat on the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Gray filed paperwork today to run for the office.

He said he’s been eyeing a seat on the Corporation Commission for quite some time and the decisions made by the commission have had a “tremendous impact” on his legislative district.

“It’s very important to make sure our utility rates are kept at the best rates possible, for both the customers and the utilities,” Gray said.

He said he will be running with incumbent Commissioner Bob Burns and is hoping to run with current Chairman Susan Bitter Smith as well. Burns and Susan Bitter Smith ran together with commissioner Bob Stump in 2012. Stump is termed out at the end of his current term.

And, like Burns, Gray said he would prefer if utilities, either upfront or through dark money groups, didn’t spend money on the commission race because he doesn’t “have any problem with transparency.” He said he plans to use Clean Elections money.

“I think there’s enough money there to use to educate, to get your information out to inform the voters, to let them make their choice,” Gray said.

In the Legislature, bills cover a breadth of issues, while at the Corporation Commission there’s more of an opportunity to dive deeper on certain issues and learn more, which Gray said he would look forward to.

Gray said there are a lot of important issues being decided by the commission in the coming months and next year, including how to handle rooftop solar in utility rates, and he wants to make sure he takes the time and gets all the facts to consider them carefully.

“I think I’ve got a fairly good reputation as being somebody that’s honest and fair in my experience in the Legislature,” he said.