Ariz. Commissioners Will Defend Ethics Code

The Arizona Corporation Commission agreed 5-0 to defend its ethics code via a letter to state legislators. The commission will respond to a Sept. 2 letter by Senate Majority Leader Rick Gray (R), Sen. Sine Kerr (R) and Rep. Gail Griffin (R), who raised concerns that the code may violate state law and the Arizona and U.S. constitutions (docket AU-00000E-17-0079). Commissioners agreed to two changes to a letter drafted by Legal Division Director Robin Mitchell. Commissioner Justin Olson, running for U.S. Senate, said the letter makes a good case for the ethics code but suggested replacing the term “dark money” with “independent expenditure campaigns” and striking a phrase that said “no one is forced to run for office.” A commission spokesperson couldn’t immediately provide the letter, which will carry commissioners’ signatures. The ACC began developing an ethics code in 2017, finalizing it in 2018 and amending it in 2019 (see 1909240019).