Arizona Commission Seeks to Tighten Ethics Code

and entities having dealings with and before the Commission, particularly where the Commission will decide a disputed issue,” said a proposed amendment by Chairman Bob Burns OK'd 5-0. It would require an elected commissioner, before voting, to declare any known campaign contributions or other contribution that indirectly benefits the member, that individual's family or personal interest. The amendment limits that to contributions from a business that’s a party in the matter and contributed $1,000 or more, or an individual party who spent at least $100. The commission also adopted Commissioner Boyd Dunn’s proposed amendment incorporating parts of Arizona’s judicial conduct code and limiting direct campaign contributions. It said a commissioner who knowingly accepts individual contributions of more than $200, or aggregate contributions of at least $1,000, from a party to a matter before the agency would have to recuse from participating in that matter. Commissioner Justin Olson asked to edit those limits to zero for a “bright line” ban on contributions from parties, though Dunn and Burns disagreed. At first, Commissioner Sandra Kennedy supported Olson’s amendment and it passed 3-2. Later, Kennedy said she would consider changing her vote, noting that her main concern is making sure sitting commissioners also can’t raise money from stakeholders when they're running for a different elected position. Dunn said he would reassess the proposed amounts over lunch, but members appeared to return without resolution. It needs more work, said Burns. The chairman held the full ethics item, including the amendments considered Wednesday, until next month's meeting. A new-look commission after the November election was expected to refine last year’s ethics code (see 1901080027).