TAC: What are the top issues facing the Arizona Corporation Commission this year?

JHM:

1. Making a decision on Arizona Public Service’s rate case.
2. Meeting the EPAs lower arsenic standards for water.
3. Ensuring that Arizona’s smaller water companies can supply water during this drought.
4. Making the right decision about Unisource’s proposal to take the company private.
5. Improving Arizona’s environmental portfolio standard rules.

TAC: What is the proper role of the ACC?

JHM: Legally, the Corporation Commission is established in Article 15 of the Arizona Constitution. The Constitution and subsequent revisions of state law define the proper roles of Commissioners. We are responsible for establishing rules and sit as a tribunal over contested matters regarding public utilities and Arizona’s securities industry. In addition, we facilitate the incorporation of businesses and organizations. We also enforce federal and state regulations to ensure railroad and pipeline safety.

Ethically, the proper role of a Corporation Commissioner is to sit as an objective, rational adjudicator of matters pertaining to utilities, securities, corporations and railroad and pipeline safety. It is important to come to the task without personal agendas and to listen to complete testimony and presentations of facts prior to reaching well-reasoned and just decisions. While it is important to maintain judicial impartiality, it is essential to keep the real needs and concerns of Arizona’s citizens foremost in our deliberations.

Arizona’s present Commission is enjoying the reputation as one of the best in Arizona’s history. Hard work and dedication, coupled with a reasoned approach to regulation, make it one of the highest functioning, forward-thinking Commissions in the nation.

TAC: Does the ACC set policy, police corporations or both?

JHM: Both.

TAC: What were the top accomplishments of your first term on the commission?

JHM:

1. Keeping utility rates at affordable levels.
2. Improving Arizona’s plan for free market generation and sale of electric power.
3. Approving transmission projects to meet Arizona’s growing power needs.
4. Establishing rules to prohibit slamming and cramming in telephone services.
5. Allowing Qwest’s entry into the long-distance market.
6. Fining Qwest $20.7 million dollars for unethical business practices.
7. Reaching the $7 million dollar global settlement with Wall Street brokerage firms.
8. Encouraging the development of additional natural gas pipelines.
9. Stopping dozens of investment scam artists who operated in Arizona.

TAC: What were the most difficult issues facing the ACC during your first term?

JHM:

1. Asking a fellow commissioner to resign. (TAC: Jim Irvin)
2. Recovering lost funds for those who had invested with scam artists.
3. Finding the right balance in enforcement actions against Qwest.
4. Allowing significant rate increases for a few small water systems.
5. Dealing with the most severe drought in recent memory.

TAC: What would you like to accomplish during a second term?

JHM:

1. Funding for additional securities fraud investigation activities.
2. Providing a consistent regulatory climate to ensure needed utility infrastructure is built.
3. Keeping rate increases to a minimum and, when possible, lowering the cost of utilities.
4. Ensuring that all water systems successfully comply with the EPA’s arsenic rules.
5. Consolidating small water companies for improved service and lower cost.
6. Supporting greater choice and improved customer services of telecommunication providers.
7. Promoting new forms of reliable, inexpensive energy to meet future needs.

TAC: Why should the voters re-elect you to the commission?

JHM: As your commissioner, I do my homework, attend the meetings and make the hard decisions. Fellow commissioners call me the “voice of reason” on the Commission. I am known as someone who maintains composure and focus under fire. The improvements to Commission orders, and decisions I have reached, have been highly regarded by all participants to the process. I have worked hard, accomplished much, and am a positive force on the Commission. I want to continue to serve the people of Arizona on the Commission.

TAC: A lot of Arizonans don't know much about the commission. Do you view the election season as a chance to educate the public on what the commission is and the purpose it serves in state government?

JHM: Yes. I do use the election season as a time to tell the story of the Commission and the positive and important role it plays in managing our state.

Here’s a sample: Arizona’s Corporation Commission began as the Railroad Commission prior to statehood in 1912. Within the state’s founding Constitution, the Commission was broadened to be a “fourth” branch of government, overseeing the utility infrastructure of our state, Arizona corporations, and the securities industry, in addition to railroads. While the mission changed slightly over the years, the core mission of protecting the public against potential abuses by Arizona’s largest businesses has continued.

TAC: How competitive is the race to get re-elected this year?

JHM: Very competitive. There are three seats up for re-election with terms ending in January of 2009. There are six candidates for those three seats, including incumbent Commissioners Mike Gleason, Bill Mundell and myself.  Only the top three vote getters will obtain seats on the Commission. 

TAC: Your fellow Republican, Mike Gleason, is also running for re-election. How would you rate the job that Mr. Gleason did in his first term, and why should voters re-elect him?

JHM: Commissioner Gleason has brought his business experience to the Commission. Commissioner Gleason has acted as a representative of our senior population. I will be voting for his re-election.

TAC: Are you and Mr. Gleason teaming up in your re-election efforts, or are you both campaigning separately?

JHM: We are waging individual campaigns. Commissioners Gleason, Mundell and I engaged in some cooperative efforts early on, but for the most part we are campaigning separately.

TAC: What are your constituents telling you about the needs of the state, relating to the ACC, as you go about your campaign efforts? 

JHM: Keep our utility rates low!

TAC: What is the funding range of ACC candidates? What does it take to get elected?

JHM: All expect to have exactly the same amount of money from Clean Elections. That means we will have approximately $110,000 to wage our campaigns. It takes lots of hard work, lots of discussion with members of the public and an effective marketing campaign to win.

TAC: What is your campaign website?

JHM: www.hatch-miller.org

TAC: General comments: Please add remarks on anything not covered above: