| Paul Newman | |
|---|---|
| Arizona Corporation Commission | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 5, 2009 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 8, 1954 New Jersey |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | None |
| Residence | Tucson, Arizona |
| Alma mater | University of Maryland, College Park |
| Occupation | Politician, Attorney |
| Religion | Jewish |
Paul Newman (born February 8, 1954) is a member of the Arizona Corporation Commission. He was a three term Arizona state representative representing Santa Cruz, Greenlee, Cochise, and Graham counties in Arizona from 1993-1998.[1] Subsequently, he was elected to two terms as Cochise County Supervisor and lived in Bisbee, AZ while serving. During his last term as County Supervisor in 2008, he launched a campaign for the Arizona Corporation Commission and won. He currently serves as one of two Democrats on the five member board.
He earned a B.A. in Behavioral and Social Science from the University of Maryland, College Park, a Master in Public Administration and a Master in Judicial Administration from University Southern California, and a Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law.
Before moving to Arizona in 1988, he was an administrator, researcher, and consultant with the California court system where he served as Court Management Consultant for the National Center for State Courts, California Supreme Court, Los Angeles Municipal Court, Sacramento Municipal Court and San Diego Superior Court from 1976 through 1986.
Paul Newman launched his campaign to run for Corporation Commission in 2008. He ran against 3 other Democrats in the Primary Election. Three of the four Democrats running for Corporation Commission made it through the primary election. Paul Newman, Sam George, and Sandra Kennedy formed The Solar Team. The Solar Team campaigned on bringing renewable solar energy to Arizona because of its abundant sunshine. Newman was endorsed by The Arizona Republic and the Tucson Citizen and by multiple elected officials such as Congressmen Harry Mitchell and Ed Pastor.
Newman and Kennedy ran as clean candidates under Arizona's Clean Elections system while George ran traditional. Under Arizona's Clean Elections system, the state is required to match funds raised by traditionally funded candidates up to a certain amount. George contributed nearly half a million dollars of his own money and pooled this money with Newman's and Kennedy's Clean Election funds. With this strategy, the Solar Team was able to run numerous television ads and post signs all over the state of Arizona. This brought more attention to the Corporation Commission race than is normally paid to it. Although George donated much of his own money, only Newman and Kennedy won in the General Election.[2]