Green Party Introduces Write-In Candidates in ACC Race

In Arizona, the race for three seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission is getting more competitive with the entry of two Green Party write-in candidates. Mike Cease and Nina Luxenberg, while not listed on the official ballot, encourage voters dissatisfied with the six candidates to consider them as alternatives.

Cease, a seasoned member of the Arizona Green Party, has actively participated in numerous Tucson elections. Luxenberg, who recently relocated from Florida, is a radiologist also based in Tucson. In the Green Party primary, Cease secured 179 votes and Luxenberg followed closely with 175.

The competition is fierce as they face notable candidates like Rachel Walden, a Republican who received the highest number of votes among female candidates in the Arizona primary. Cease’s background in chemical engineering informs his priorities, including advocating for sanctions against Arizona companies linked to Israel, promoting renewable energy, and preventing groundwater pollution from mining activities.

Cease has expressed a strong desire for a ceasefire in the Israel-Palestine conflict, emphasizing the need to sever connections between Arizona businesses and Israel. His decision to run stems from a recognition of the Corporation Commission’s impact on various issues aligning with Green Party values. “The ACC touches on a whole range of core issues in the Green Party platform and Green Party values,” he stated.

Luxenberg’s move to Arizona two years ago spurred her environmental passion, motivating her to enter politics for the first time. “When I moved to Arizona, I joined the Green Party,” she remarked. “I have always followed their tenants, their platform, basically it’s people, planet, and peace, and I abide by all of that.”

Her campaign focuses on lowering utility costs, incentivizing solar energy, and safeguarding the state’s water resources. Luxenberg is particularly worried about a potential new mine near the Santa Rita Mountains in Pima County, a concern shared with other Green Party candidates.

Cease also highlighted the ongoing threat the Resolution Copper Mine poses to the sacred Oak Flat site, underscoring the Green Party’s commitment to environmental protection. In contrast to Democratic candidates who are seen as climate-focused after receiving endorsements from groups like the Sierra Club, Luxenberg argues that Green Party candidates offer genuine solutions. “The Green Party has always put the people first and we are concerned about implementing climate change solutions as quickly as possible,” she asserted.

Challenges loom for Cease and Luxenberg, particularly following their exclusion from a recent debate organized by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission. New rules stipulate that candidates must achieve at least 1% of votes in primaries to qualify for debates, a hurdle Cease believes is insurmountable given the current voter registration statistics for Green Party members.

“It’s devastating because that’s an awesome opportunity for any candidate to get his or her message out there,” Cease lamented. Nevertheless, both candidates are hopeful for support from Arizonans across the political spectrum and urge voters to consider writing their names on the ballot. “This isn’t voting for the lesser of two evils, that’s not how we’re going to see change,” Luxenberg concluded. “Voting is one way we give our voice, so I think everyone should vote their conscience.”