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Arizona Corporation Commission Candidates to Debate Issues That Impact All Arizona Citizens

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 inArizona.

Participation couldn't be easier. The public can engage in person at Rio Salado College inTempe, 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 inTempe.

The General Election debate will be presented live September 15 at Rio Salado College, 2323 West 14th Street inTempe 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 isArizona'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 theArizona 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 byArizona 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

Tags: ,OIL,TLS,UTI,BFA,AR-Arizona-Council

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Arizona Corporation Commission Candidates to Debate Issues That Impact All Arizona Citizens