PHOENIX β The four remaining members of the Arizona Corporation Commission chose Doug Little on Tuesday as interim chairman of the panel, and the likely permanent chairman.
The vote came after commission members Bob Burns and Bob Stump said it would be improper to choose the chairman for the coming year before Gov. Doug Ducey names a replacement for Chairwoman Susan Bitter Smith, who is resigning from the commission. Her last day is Monday.
An aide to the governor said Tuesday afternoon that the decision on Bitter Smithβs replacement is still βunder consideration.β
The commissioners voted to have Little assume the helm on an acting basis, beginning next Tuesday. Then, after Ducey acts, there will be another vote, this time with the new member participating.
But it really wonβt matter who Ducey names, or who that person wants as chairman.
Little already has the endorsement of Commissioner Tom Forese, with whom he ran as a ticket in the 2014 election. And Burns committed to vote for Little when the time comes. That guarantees Little three votes on the five-member panel.
The chairman sets the agenda for the commission, which regulates utilities and decides on rate requests affecting consumers.
