Gov. Katie Hobbs has appointed a new member to the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission, marking the first appointment to the commission in seven years.
Hobbs appointed attorney Christina Estes-Werther, an independent, to replace Democrat Damein Meyer, whose term expired in 2019, but has continued working as a commissioner until now.
“Christina Estes-Werther is among Arizona’s foremost experts in election law and administration,” Hobbs said in a statement. “I am confident that she will bring valuable insight to the Commission as it continues its important work during the 2024 election year,” she said.
Estes-Werther has served in several election-related roles, including a stint as state election director. She said the governor’s office encouraged her to apply.
"I am honored that Governor Hobbs has placed her confidence in me as a commissioner,” Estes-Werther said in a statement. “I look forward to working with my fellow commissioners to provide voter education to all Arizonans and to ensure that the Clean Elections' campaign finance duties are fulfilled effectively and fairly."
Hobbs’ appointment is likely the first of many. The commission consists of five members, all of whom, up until Estes-Werther, have served well past the five-year terms they were appointed to.
Under state law, the governor and the highest-ranking elected official from the opposite political party alternate appointments to the nonpartisan commission.
That means Republican Treasurer Kimberly Yee will pick the next commissioner, then it's Hobbs’ choice again.
Hobbs was actually the last person to appoint a commissioner back in 2017, when as Senate minority leader, she was the highest ranking Democrat during former Gov. Doug Ducey’s administration.
Since Hobbs chose first, she’ll get to select three of the five people on the commission.
The Citizens Clean Election Commission was established through a ballot measure in 1998. It is responsible for enforcing the candidates’ transparency requirements.
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