Blue-ribbon panel

Voters should keep all four on utility commission

Don't mess with success. That familiar bit of wisdom applies to the Arizona Corporation Commission.

The five commissioners have served the state well. They have made judicious and effective use of their authority over the underpinnings of our economy and daily lives: electricity, natural gas, telephone service and small water companies.

Commissioners Jeff Hatch-Miller, Mike Gleason and Bill Mundell are up for re-election to four-year terms. Kris Mayes, who was appointed to the commission a year ago, is seeking a term that ends in 2007.

Voters should keep them in office. (The fifth commissioner, Marc Spitzer, is not up for re-election this year.)

Republicans Mundell, Gleason and Hatch-Miller all came to their posts with experience in the Arizona Legislature under their belts. They have done a good job of performing the commission's unusual balancing act: serving the interests of consumers, enforcing Arizona law and allowing regulated utilities to make a fair return on their investment.

Mundell has been a strong advocate for protecting the environment while ensuring that we have an affordable, reliable supply of electricity. During his tenure, the commission has turned down two proposed generating plants because of environmental risks.

Mundell recognizes the importance, both strategically and environmentally, of weaning ourselves from fossil fuels. To move toward that goal, he has backed the "environmental portfolio," which requires utilities to get a portion of their electricity from renewable energy sources. While Arizona was an early leader in this area, other states are moving further ahead.

Mundell's support and expertise will be important assets as the commission considers raising the bar.

Mundell has been a big proponent of getting the commission out to areas affected by the cases it's considering. Public comment sessions have been held everywhere from Kingman to Nogales.

Gleason and Hatch-Miller were elected to the commission just two years ago, when two commission seats were added, for a total of five. .

Both have gotten up to speed on dauntingly complex issues.

Hatch-Miller takes a special interest in the challenge of helping Arizona's small water companies find the financial resources to comply with tighter federal arsenic standards.

Gleason, who has extensive business and international experience, is particularly concerned with pipeline safety and how natural-gas supplies will affect the cost of electricity.

The two Democratic candidates in this race both show an impressive command of the issues. Phoenix attorney Mark Manoil, who is running for public office for the first time, offers a strong business background and a commitment to renewable resources.

Nina Trasoff, a former television journalist from Tucson, argues for using the commission as a bully pulpit to get more Arizonans involved in issues.

While Manoil and Trasoff are strong contenders, we don't see compelling reasons to replace any of the sitting commissioners. We hope, however, that these two will offer their talents and energies in future bids for office.

The newest commissioner, Kris Mayes, is facing one challenger, Libertarian Rick Fowlkes. After less than a year at the commission, Mayes, a Republican, knows the lay of the land, and we should stick with her.

The Corporation Commission has a full load of critical questions ahead, including whether natural gas should be stored underground in the West Valley, where to put new transmission lines, whether to accept a rate increase for Arizona Public Service and how Qwest is allowed to do its pricing.

The commission went through tumultuous times during the self-interested tenure of Jim Irvin. It took the threat of impeachment to get Irvin to resign, after a jury found that he secretly tried to influence the sale of a regulated natural-gas company.

Now the commission is on track and headed in the right direction. We shouldn't change the crew.

We urge voters to retain Jeff Hatch-Miller, Mike Gleason, Bill Mundell and Kris Mayes.