Leaders In Action

Arizona Legislator Propels Campaign Finance Reform

Arizona Senator Chris Cummiskey, a long-time proponent of campaign finance and and ethics reform, made progress this session to shed light on the fundraising practices of lobbyists.

With Senator Scott Bundgaard, Cummiskey introduced a measure requiring lobbyists to disclose their clients, preventing incumbents from using a campaign surplus to run for a different office, and stopping current officeholders from using publicly-funded resources (office phones, e-mail, fax and copy machines) to solicit campaign contributions. The bill passed the Senate and House late in the session, before being vetoed by the Governor.

"This legislation is another step forward in providing the public more information and fairer elections," Cummiskey said. Beyond leveling the playing field between incumbents and challengers, the measure would have increased the transparency of the campaign process.

"While the bill is just one part of the campaign finance reform puzzle, it would create a terrific opportunity for sweeping campaign finance reform in 2002," Cummiskey added.

Cummiskey is devoted to legislation where he can "work with local leaders at the grassroots level, people who don’t usually go into the halls of the legislature, people who aren’t paid to be lobbyists, those interested in reform."

Cummiskey attributes his legislative successes to working collaboratively with legislators from both parties. The Senator discovered that by starting work early in the game, building broad-based coalitions and bringing to the table as many disparate contingents as possible, helps "create a groundswell that the opponents and critics will have difficulty overcoming." The Senator also added, "Placing problem solving ahead of the politics always yields better results."

After serving four years in the Arizona House of Representatives, Cummiskey successfully ran for a seat in the Arizona State Senate in 1994. Cummiskey serves on the Judiciary, Finance and Rules Committees. He is the Director of Development at Southwest Human Development, a children’s nonprofit organization that specializes in providing community-based services to young children and their families.