Citizens Clean Elections Committee seeks candidate to fill vacancy



Non-Maricopa County resident needed to fill vacancy



Phoenix, (July 25, 2011) – The Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission is currently looking to fill one vacancy on its five member panel.  There are specific requirements that apply to this opening.

The prospective candidate must live in a county other than Maricopa.  Commission rules prohibit having more than two commissioners from the same county.  Because the Commission currently has two Maricopa County residents, any new commissioner must be from one of Arizona’s 14 other counties. 

Anyone interested must have been registered with the same political party or as an independent for the past five years.  Since the Commission already has two Democrats and two Republicans, the new person must be a registered independent or a member of another political party such as Green or Libertarian. 

The applicant must not have held or run for public office within the past five years.  In addition, the person must not have served as an officer of a political party within the past five years.

Applications are currently being accepted by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission for the vacancy. The Commission oversees a public financing system for political campaigns and promotes voter education efforts in Arizona.

The application deadline is August 31, 2011.  To apply, visit the Commission’s website, www.azcleanelections.gov.  Click on the button “Click Here to Apply” and follow the instructions.

Commission members are barred from seeking or holding any public office, serving as an officer of a political party, and employing or being employed as a lobbyist during their term on the Commission and for three years following.  They are paid $250 for every day the Commission meets and reimbursed for travel expenses. 

About the Citizens Clean Elections Commission

The Citizens Clean Elections Act, which was passed by voters in 1998, created a new campaign financing system that provides full public funding to qualified candidates who agree to abide by Citizens Clean Elections Commission guidelines. Candidates for statewide and legislative offices are eligible to participate in the public funding program.

To qualify for funding, participating candidates gathered $5 qualifying contributions from constituents who were registered voters. Participating candidates also adhere to strict spending and contribution limits and agree to attend required workshops and debates.  For more information visit the Citizens Clean Elections Commission website: www.azcleanelections.gov