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.
