AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 9, 2026
Commissioner Contests Staff Termination
Arizona Corporation Commissioner Lea Márquez Peterson is questioning the authority of the commission’s executive director after her longtime policy advisor was fired without her knowledge or consent. The issue unfolded at an open commission meeting on October 7, where Márquez Peterson detailed her concerns about the process surrounding her staff member’s dismissal.
The Firing and Its Circumstances
The policy advisor, Laurie Woodall, was reportedly terminated by ACC Executive Director Doug Clark after an employee complaint was filed against her. Márquez Peterson stated she was only notified about the impending termination by voicemail at 8:39 a.m. on October 1, shortly before the firing occurred at 9 a.m. She also received a follow-up email from Clark regarding the decision. Márquez Peterson told fellow commissioners that she was shocked by the unilateral decision, noting that the advisor was a highly respected attorney with over 40 years of experience who had worked with the commission for decades.
Questions Over Executive Director Authority
Márquez Peterson argued that commissioners never delegated the authority to terminate their personally hired staff to the executive director. She called for a policy statement to clarify the limits of Clark’s authority over employees hired and overseen directly by commissioners. State law does allow the commission to delegate certain oversight powers, but Márquez Peterson emphasized that no such delegation existed concerning commissioner-hired staff.
Commission Chair Nick Myers and Commissioners Kevin Thompson and Rene Lopez were hesitant to adopt a new policy before gathering more information. Myers remarked that he wanted to fully understand the situation before making judgments, while Thompson acknowledged that in some circumstances the executive director should have the right to terminate staff, provided there is just cause.
Investigation and Legal Review
The complaint against Woodall was investigated by local employment attorney Michael Zoldan, due to a potential conflict of interest involving the ACC’s general counsel, Tom Van Flein. Zoldan recommended Woodall’s termination and advised that Clark had authority to carry out the firing. This interpretation was reviewed by the Arizona Department of Administration’s Human Resources Division after a request from the corporation commission, as required by state rules. The attorney general’s office acted as an advisor to the ADOA, not directly to the commission.
The commission subsequently voted to allow Márquez Peterson to hire independent counsel from the law firm Snell and Wilmer to look into whether Clark exceeded his authority in firing Woodall.
Reaction from Former Officials and Stakeholders
Former commissioner Bob Burns criticized the decision, describing Clark’s action as "definitely not kosher" and noting that, in previous practice, commissioners had exclusive discretion to hire and fire their direct reports. Diane Brown, executive director of the Arizona Public Interest Research Group, said the firing appeared to circumvent normal commission procedures and expressed concern over the apparent lack of due process.
Brown and other observers were further troubled by the commission’s decision to redact parts of the meeting transcript and video regarding Woodall. She described the commission’s openness about the firing, followed by an attempt to retract statements and video, as "deeply disturbing." As of publication, related recordings and transcripts had not been publicly posted.
Broader Implications and Ongoing Disputes
Some stakeholders and critics suggested Woodall’s firing could set a precedent allowing an executive director to exert undue influence over staff and commissioners, particularly those in the political minority. The Arizona Corporation Commission is currently composed solely of Republicans, though two Democrats are running in hopes of shifting the balance in the upcoming November elections.
This incident is the latest in a series of employment controversies at the commission, including a discrimination lawsuit and allegations of increased staff turnover in recent years. Márquez Peterson maintains that Clark "acted without authority" and stated that the issue will be discussed again in an upcoming staff meeting. The Arizona Capitol Times has requested public records related to the firing, but further details remain undisclosed.
Source: azcapitoltimes.com.
