Salt River Project’s upcoming board election will follow century-old rules that favor large landowners. (NYT)
One of the nation’s largest public power utilities has offered exclusive voting power to property owners in metro Phoenix for the April 7 race. More land=more say, and renters are left out entirely.
Here to stay? The antiquated landowner system survived a 5–4 Supreme Court challenge in 1981. Changing it would require sign-off from both the utility board and the state legislature—neither of which has shown interest.
This year’s race is shaping up as the most combative yet. Turning Point USA is throwing cash at candidates to defeat a pro-renewables slate backed by the Sierra Club. Those candidates also want to overhaul the voting system itself, arguing it disenfranchises a large swath of ratepayers.