Editorial board

The Republic | azcentral.com

Tom Forese and Jim Holway are most qualified candidates for Corporation Commission

Forese%27s legislative experience%2C openness to transparency lift him

Holway has more than three decades experience in issues%2C plus a different viewpoint

The raucous Republican primary for two seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission has given way to a sleepy general-election campaign.

Perhaps the backers of the two GOP nominees believe they have it in the bag. But there's a better option: splitting your ticket to elect the two most qualified candidates and add ideological diversity to the body that sets water and electric rates across the state.

The Arizona Republic recommends Tom Forese and Jim Holway.

Forese, a Republican state representative from the southeast Valley, has chaired the House Commerce Committee and served on the Appropriations Committee. Both provide a good education for the demands of the Corporation Commission.

He also understands that the world of energy is changing. During the primary, he described solar power as a "wonderfully disruptive technology." He recognizes the tremendous power the commission holds. "We need to be cautious," he told The Republic's editorial board. "The Corporation Commission has the ability to do significant damage to the economy."

And give him credit for this:

Forese was a part of the GOP team supported by nearly $2 million in "dark money" ads during the primary. It is widely believed that Arizona Public Service, a regulated utility, provided the money. Forese supports requiring APS and its parent company to open their books, which would reveal how much they spent, if anything, on campaigning. Such transparency is needed.

His teammate, Doug Little, opposes the idea. While Little, as a corporate executive, saw the effects of energy policy in the real world, he too often shows he's not ready for a political job and the public accountability that comes with it. It's difficult to get a straight answer to a direct question.

Besides, there's a better candidate: Democrat Jim Holway, who ranks among the most qualified candidates to seek a seat on the commission. He has more than three decades of experience with water, energy and economic issues, including a stint as assistant director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources. He served the past four years on the Central Arizona Project Board.

That is a great asset to bring to the board. The other is political diversity. The commission today is an all-Republican body. The five commissioners differ on details, but they're in general agreement on the big picture. A healthy debate would flow from adding a new viewpoint.

Holway, for instance, has a rooftop solar system. He knows he benefits from the grid but wants an independent economic study to determine whether solar users are indeed shifting costs to non-solar users. That's in contrast to the commission coming to that determination on its own, as the group did last year.

He can speak in great detail about coal, the Navajo Generating Station and the need to study coal sequestration. He speaks the language and would not have to lean on staff to get up to speed.

We don't agree with every idea he offers. He suggests, for instance, that everyone who comes before the commission, not just APS, should reveal contributing to a Corporation Commission race. That's a step too far and clearly beyond the commission's authority.

But on balance, Holway would inject the commission with something it needs: a varied viewpoint. That would be good for Arizona.

Who's in, who's out: Corporation Commission: