Arizona Capitol Times Your Inside Source for Arizona Government, Politics and Business

A founding director at lobbying firm Veridus LLC and one of the most respected in her profession, Wendy Briggs has built a reputation as relentless, tireless, dependable and tough as nails – qualities that have served her clients well.

When it comes to credibility and building relationships, among the best is Deb Gullett, whose experience in the public policy arena is as expansive as the Arizona sky.

In the kingdom of term limits and constant turnovers, institutional knowledge is king. And few can match Patrice Kraus’ experience, skill and political acumen as a lobbyist.

A nonprofit funded at least in part by the Koch brothers is financing a six-figure TV campaign that a spokesman said is designed to "educate'' Arizonans about school choice.

Coming to agreement on how best to marshal the state’s water resources and to create sustainability for future Arizonans is among the toughest challenges that leaders in our region can take on. Arizona has chosen to act now. We are opting to improve on the work of previous generations of state leaders to ensure that the word “crisis” remains banished from Arizona’s water lexicon.

It will take all parties working together to develop common ground solutions that will protect all of our water interests into the future. Arizona has long been recognized in the West as a leader in water policy. ABWC is playing an important role to ensure that leadership continues well into Arizona’s future.

Gov. Doug Ducey's current, hurried water policy process bears little resemblance to the proven formula for development of sound, nonpartisan water law in Arizona. Much of the focus of these invitation-only gatherings appears intent on merely criticizing (and silencing) CAP, not on resolving honest differences of opinion and developing a consensus solution to the critical issues facing us today.

We are at the crossroads regarding additional looming challenges including drought, especially drought on the Colorado River; where our next “buckets” of water will come from; and who will be the next generation of champions who provide the vision and courage to make extremely tough decisions about Arizona’s water future.

Collaboration is often touted as key to Arizona’s successes in water management, and it is. We just forget how messy, cantankerous, and difficult collaborating can be. We are seeing it again this summer as the state wrestles with Colorado River and groundwater issues in a stakeholder process led by Gov. Doug Ducey.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality disagrees with its own advisory committee, which says current septic system regulations need a serious update to ensure protection of groundwater.