PHOENIX — Although she’s a retired professor and former city council member, Lauren Kuby says it’s actually her role as a new grandmother that motivated her to run for the SRP Board.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a Republican or a Democrat, everyone wants a healthier future for their grandchildren,” Kuby said, while canvassing a Tempe neighborhood on a recent Sunday morning.
'We need to do so much more'
Kuby and thirteen other candidates are trying to flip the SRP Board and council to support stronger rooftop solar policies. Candidates for the SRP Board include former state regulator Sandra Kennedy, a former SRP employee, and the founder of a children’s climate action network.
Last April, SRP reported that just 3.6% of its energy portfolio comes from solar power.
“There’s a lot of good things SRP is doing but we need to do so much more,” Kuby said.
Although the utility plans to add nearly 2,000 megawatts of large-scale solar generation, solar energy hawks are not satisfied with the public utility’s progress, especially regarding consumer-based rooftop solar.
“Most incumbents have voted to maintain status quo policies to keep coal online, to penalize rooftop solar customers,” said Autumn Johnson of AriSEIA, an industry trade association.
'SRP mixes it up'
Kuby is running in SRP’s District 5, which stretches across the south Valley (see SRP’s district boundaries here).
There are seven open seats on the board (two are at-large) and fifteen open seats on the council. SRP’s voting territory is divided into ten districts, each represented by a board member and three council members (call 602-236-3048 for SRP voting information).
Kuby’s opponent is incumbent Stephen Williams, a six-time elected SRP official and a member of the Maricopa Farm Bureau.
The race between the two is symbolic of a larger battle over SRP’s future. Kuby is an ASU Global Futures Scientist and has a history of leading climate action initiatives. Williams is a fifth-generation Arizona farmer. His father also served on SRP’s board.
Kuby talks about the need to fight climate change. A spokesperson for Williams alleged SRP “Clean Energy Candidates” are part of an “attempted takeover of SRP.”
Williams declined an on-camera interview with 12News
He told 12News by email: “I like solar power, but let’s be real— the sun doesn’t shine at night. We’ve got to keep our homes cool and our lights on round the clock. That’s why SRP mixes it up with things like natural gas plants.”
SRP elections have very small turnout
The 14-member nonpartisan board dictates energy policies and priorities for the utility monopoly. Although board members wield immense influence, just 1% of eligible voters cast a ballot during the last election.
“It’s a small but mighty election,” Kuby said.
Voting is underway now. The election ends on April 2. SRP customers must request a ballot in advance to participate. The deadline for requests is March 22.
SRP elections favor large landowners
Rules governing SRP elections give more leverage to large landowners. Voters get one vote per acre. The owner of 50 acres of land gets 50 votes. The owner of a smaller portion of land gets the fraction equivalent of a vote, even down to .1%.
“I am accumulating acres. People aren’t voting in my district. Acres are voting. It’s one acre, one vote,” Kuby said.
That dynamic favors farmers, who historically get elected above other candidates because they have many votes. Public records show Williams’ family owns more than 100 acres.
Williams has business registered as 'Hitler Management'
The District 5 race has attracted attention for another reason.
Williams has a business registered as “Hitler Management LLC.” The company was listed with the Arizona Corporation Commission in 2002.
“Frankly when people hear that, they almost grab the sign-up sheet from me,” Kuby said.
Williams tells 12News that the LLC is not actually a business.
“It was a bad joke gone wrong, created by a family member,” Williams said in a written statement. “That decision doesn’t reflect my values, not then, not now.”
The company is listed as “Active” and “In Good Standing” on the commission website. Williams has the option to fill out an online form and request the commission dissolve the corporation.
12News asked Williams in writing if he was aware that he had that option, and if he has ever made that request to the commission over the past two decades. A spokesperson for Williams— his fellow board member Keith Woods— told 12News that Williams will not answer the question.
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