Arizona Secretary of State - Ken Bennett

Executive Branch

Statewide Elected Officials

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The Corporation Commission

History

Duties

The Corporation Commission

The Arizona Corporation Commission was established in the Arizona Constitution. Only seven states have constitutionally formed Commissions. Arizona is one of only 13 states with elected Commissioners. In the 37 other states, Commissioners are appointed by either the governor or the legislature.

In most states, the Commission is known as the Public Service Commission or the Public Utility Commission. However, in Arizona the Commission oversees the process of incorporating or registering a company to do business in the state, registers and oversees securities offerings and dealers and enforces railroad and pipeline safety.

By virtue of the Arizona Constitution, the Commissioners function in an executive capacity; they adopt rules and regulations thereby functioning in a legislative capacity; and they also act in judicial capacity sitting as a tribunal and making decisions in contested matters.

The Commission is required by the Arizona Constitution to maintain its chief office in Phoenix and it is required by law to conduct monthly meetings.

Corporation Commissioners

Commissioners are elected by the people of Arizona for a four-year term, with two or three members standing for election in the statewide general election. In the case of a vacancy, the Governor appoints a Commissioner to serve until the next general election. In the 2000 General Election, the Arizona Corporation Commission was the subject of a ballot proposition seeking to expand the Commission by two seats. Voters approved Proposition 103, which expands the Commission to a total of five members and
changes their terms to four-year terms with the option of serving for two consecutive terms.

Ultimate responsibility for final decisions on granting or denying rate adjustments, enforcing safety and public service requirements, and approving securities matters rests with the Commissioners.

The administrative head of the Commission is the Executive Director who serves at the pleasure of the Commissioners. He is responsible to the Commissioners for the day to day operations of all Divisions.

The Commission staff is organized into Divisions. All Divisions are headed by a Division Director who reports to the Executive Director.

Commissioners Since Statehood (who have served by year)

1912

A.W. Cole - Democrat

W. P. Geary - Democrat

F. A. Jones - Democrat

1913

A.W. Cole - Democrat

W. P. Geary - Democrat

F. A. Jones - Democrat

1914

A.W. Cole - Democrat

W. P. Geary - Democrat

F. A. Jones - Democrat

1915

A.W. Cole - Democrat

W. P. Geary - Democrat

F. A. Jones - Democrat

1916

A.W. Cole - Democrat

F. A. Jones - Democrat

1917

Amos A. Betts - Democrat

A.W. Cole - Democrat

F. A. Jones - Democrat

1918

Amos A. Betts - Democrat

F. A. Jones - Democrat

1919

Amos A. Betts - Democrat

David F. Johnson - Democrat

F. A. Jones - Democrat

1920

Amos A. Betts - Democrat

David F. Johnson - Democrat

1921

Amos A. Betts - Democrat

David F. Johnson - Democrat

Loren Vaughn - Democrat

1922

Amos A. Betts - Democrat

David F. Johnson - Democrat

Loren Vaughn - Democrat

1923

Amos A. Betts - Democrat

David F. Johnson - Democrat

Loren Vaughn - Democrat

1924

Amos A. Betts - Democrat

David F. Johnson - Democrat

Loren Vaughn - Democrat

1925

Amos A. Betts - Democrat

W. D. Claypool - Democrat

Loren Vaughn - Democrat

1926

Amos A. Betts - Democrat

W. D. Claypool - Democrat

Loren Vaughn - Democrat

1927

Amos A. Betts - Democrat

W. D. Claypool - Democrat

Loren Vaughn - Democrat

1928

Amos A. Betts - Democrat

W. D. Claypool - Democrat

Loren Vaughn - Democrat

1929

Amos A. Betts - Democrat

W. D. Claypool - Democrat

Loren Vaughn - Democrat

1930

Amos A. Betts - Democrat

W. D. Claypool - Democrat

Loren Vaughn - Democrat

1931

Amos A. Betts - Democrat

Charles R. Howe - Democrat

Loren Vaughn - Democrat

1932

Amos A. Betts - Democrat

Charles R. Howe - Democrat

Loren Vaughn - Democrat

1933

Amos A. Betts - Democrat

John Cummard - Democrat

Charles R. Howe - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1934

John Cummard - Democrat

Charles R. Howe - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1935

W. M. Cox - Democrat

Charles R. Howe - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1936

W. M. Cox - Democrat

Charles R. Howe - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1937

W. M. Cox - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1938

W. M. Cox - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1939

W. M. Cox - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1940

W. M. Cox - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1941

William Peterson - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1942

William Peterson - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1943

William Peterson - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1944

William Eden - Democrat

William Peterson - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1945

William Eden - Democrat

William Peterson - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1946

William Eden - Democrat

William Peterson - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1947

William T. Brooks - Democrat

William Eden - Democrat

Yale McFate - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1948

William T. Brooks - Democrat

Yale McFate - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1949

William T. Brooks - Democrat

Mit Simms - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1950

William T. Brooks - Democrat

Mit Simms - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1951

William T. Brooks - Democrat

Mit Simms - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1952

William T. Brooks - Democrat

Mit Simms - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1953

William T. Brooks - Democrat

Mit Simms - Democrat

Wilson T. Wright - Democrat

1954

William T. Brooks - Democrat

Timothy D. Parkman - Republican

Mit Simms - Democrat

1955

John H. Barry - Democrat

William T. Brooks - Democrat

Mit Simms - Democrat

1956

John H. Barry - Democrat

William T. Brooks - Democrat

Mit Simms - Democrat

1957

William T. Brooks - Democrat

Mit Simms - Democrat