By Stacey Barchenger || The Arizona Republic
Arizona Public Service Co. was the single largest donor behind Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ public inauguration celebration, kicking in $250,000 for the event that drew thousands to the state Capitol complex two weeks ago, a report released Tuesday shows.
The report comes as Hobbs has for weeks faced scrutiny for refusing to reveal donors and spending, in contrast with her pledges of transparency made along the campaign trail.
About 120 organizations and individuals donated $1.5 million to a nonprofit created by Hobbs’ campaign manager, Nicole DeMont, to put on the public ceremony held on Jan. 5, according to a five-page list of donors and expenses released by the campaign.
APS, the state’s largest electric utility, was the only organization to make a $250,000 donation. In a statement, a spokesperson said APS was “pleased to join other businesses in supporting an important event for our state” and that the donation drew from shareholder funds, not customer rates.
For subscribers:GOP lawmakers skewer Hobbs’ budget at Capitol as school voucher advocates protest rollback plan
APS’ parent company, Pinnacle West Capital Corp., is a prolific political donor, and for last year’s elections gave $850,000 to the Republican Governors Association, which seeks to seat Republican governors across the country. The RGA in turn backed Hobbs’ GOP opponent, Kari Lake, spending over $14 million in an attempt to keep the Governor’s Office in Republican control.
