By Daniel Stefanski |
One of Arizona’s statewide Republicans is making a critical appointment to a commission.
Last week, State Treasurer Kimberly Yee announced that she had made her inaugural appointment to the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission. Yee’s selection was Linda Gray, a former state senator. This selection would replace Commissioner Amy Chan.
In a statement that accompanied her press release, Yee said, “I am proud to appoint the Honorable Linda Gray to the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission. Former Senator Gray knows the Clean Elections laws well and will serve with integrity to promote public confidence in the Arizona political process.”
The Republican treasurer added, “Today, I informed Governor Hobbs that with my appointments, and her two Democrat appointments, we can ensure there is a collaborative effort to support the non-partisan mission of the Clean Elections Commission. As the 2024 election cycle approaches, it is imperative that this Commission is fully and lawfully appointed.”
Earlier that day, Yee sent a letter to Hobbs, detailing her proposition to appoint three out of the five members – two Republicans and one Independent – to serve on the Commission. Yee justified her plans from A.R.S. § 16-955(D), which, as the Treasurer wrote in her communication, “requires the political parties to alternate in making these appointment selections.” Treasurer Yee asserted that since Hobbs had “made the most recent appointment in 2017 during (her) tenure as the Senate Minority Leader,” (she is) now entitled to appoint three out of the next five selections as the highest-ranking Republican elected official in Arizona.”
Treasurer Yee alerted the governor that “the highest-ranking Democrat elected official” would “have three selections in the next five-year cycle that begins in 2029.”
According to the Citizens Clean Elections Act, each member of the Commission is limited to one five-year term. Yee highlighted that this term for the current commissioners has expired, “leaving all five appointed positions de facto vacant.”
Yee also proposed that both she and Hobbs “independently appoint all of our respective selections before the February 1, 2024, deadline rather than going back and forth.”
The governor does not appear to have made any comments about the process of appointing members to the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission, nor about Yee’s proposals. Yee offered to facilitate a meeting between the two if Hobbs wished “to discuss this matter further.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
