Corporations helped fund Ducey transition, events

Companies, lobbyists and individuals have funded Gov. Doug Ducey's high-profile public events, according to records released Tuesday by the Governor's Office.

The donations to the "protocol fund," a longstanding privately funded account controlled by the Governor's Office for "promotion of state interests," were made after Ducey's election in November and prior to his taking office in January. The account was almost exclusively funded by private donors who gave to the governor's transition effort. The money left over from the transition was transferred to the protocol fund.

Among the expenditures were a "Leadership Summit" held last week at University of Phoenix Stadium and the governor's tour across the Valley to mark his first 100 days in office.

The records do not fully detail expenses associated with the leadership summit, which are estimated at about $30,000. Complete details on the expenditures, which include production costs, lodging and travel for the speakers, are expected to be released soon, Ducey spokesman Daniel Scarpinato said.

Political observers and Ducey's critics raised questions about who was funding the highly choreographed event, which featured four well-known speakers.

Records show Ducey transferred $150,000 to his protocol fund from his transition fund on Feb. 11.

The transition account was funded mostly by companies, including utility giant APS, Cox Communications, real-estate investment company West Coast Capital Partners, Banner Health, Young's Market Co., Alliance Beverage Distributing Co., Swift Transportation, Lyft and Tesla Motors.

Those donors and others gave $456,943 to the transition account, which was a political non-profit. The money covered expenses surrounding his transition into office, such as salaries and background checks, Scarpinato said. The governor capped donations to that fund at $15,000 in an effort to make sure "no one group or person had undue influence," Scarpinato wrote in an e-mail.

The transition account is now closed, Scarpinato said. Ducey voluntarily disclosed donor and expenditure information on his transition website and in response to a public-records request from The Arizona Republic.

In addition to $150,000 from the transition fund, the protocol account was also boosted by a $2,600 donation from Freeport-McMoRan and $5,000 from 1-800 Contacts.

Ducey's expenses for the protocol fund include $569 to a Mexican restaurant for a reception to celebrate the opening day of the Legislature, reimbursements for Ducey employees, beverages, $179 for flower arrangements, and pens to sign ceremonial legislation.

Ducey's predecessor, Gov. Jan Brewer, frequently tapped the office's protocol fund, spending tens of thousands of dollars, according to records dating back to January 2012. Brewer also funded the account with private donations.

Among Brewer's transactions: $3,715 in payments to a celebrity makeup and hair stylist, $9,000 to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, and money for flower arrangements, receptions, and other expenses.

PHOTOS: GOV. DOUG DUCEY'S LEADERSHIP SUMMIT