Thread by @jeremyduda

The first meeting of the new Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission begins in a few minutes. Their first order of business is to choose a fifth member who will serve as the independent chair. You can watch the meeting here: facebook.com/SecretaryHobbs…

Here's the agenda for today's #AIRC meeting azsos.gov/sites/default/…

The meeting has begun. @SecretaryHobbs tells the commissioners, "I wish you all the very best of luck as you begin this work."

Commissioners David Mehl (R), Shereen Lerner (D), Douglas York (R) and Derrick Watchman (D) have taken their oath of office as redistricting commissioners.

Watchman nominates fellow Dem Lerner for temporary chair, then York nominates fellow Republican Mehl

Lerner only gets her vote and Watchman's vote for temporary chair. Mehl and York vote no, Hobbs abstains.

The same thing happened on the vote for Mehl, with the commission deadlocking on partisan lines.

The 4 commissioners have already deadlocked on who will serve as temporary chair, who will only serve for the remainder of this meeting until they choose the independent chair. This can't be a good sign.

Mehl acknowledges this is a "very unimportant selection," but makes his case for himself, notes that GOP is Arizona's majority party and that he was the first commissioner selected to the new #AIRC

Mehl will be temporary chair. After another 2-2 vote on Lerner, all 4 commissioners vote for Mehl. Hobbs is now excusing herself from the meeting.

Now might be a good time to mention that the 4 commissioners don't necessarily have to choose a chair today. They have 15 days to make a choice. If they don't meet that deadline, the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments will make the call.

The IRC has now gone into executive session for a discussion on the independent chair candidates. Candidate interviews are after that.

While you wait, learn about the five candidates for independent chair: Megan Carollo, Thomas Loquvam, Erika Neuberg, Greg Teesdale and Robert Wilson. azmirror.com/2021/01/12/red…

We're in open session. The commissioners are figuring out what questions they want to ask during the candidate interviews.

Are they back in open session or are the cameras accidentally on for the executive session? The cameras went off but they're back on now. It's not clear.

I deleted my previous tweet. The agenda notices possible executive session in this meeting.

We're back in open session and the first interview is Robert Wilson.

Wilson owns a business consulting practice and gun store in Flagstaff. Dems have strenuously opposed him, alleging he's basically a Republican in disguise, due to hosting GOP candidates at his gun store, his social media comments and other things.

Wilson says Colleen Mathis, the precious IRC chair, told him this is a "thankless job," and thanks the 4 commissioners for serving

York asks how Wilson would overcome perceived conflicts of interest. Wilson says he hosted candidates so voters could get to know them, but, “I didn’t endorse any candidate. I didn't endorse or condemn any platform.”

Wilson notes that Arizona is no longer subject to preclearance under the Voting Rights Act, but says IRC should act as if it still applies to add more layers of scrutiny and responsibility.

Lerner asks if Wilson has ever hosted a Dem candidate. He says no, but he's extended invitations to Dems.

“As you can imagine, the Democrat party has a slightly different perspective of the 2nd Amendment than perhaps what a gun store owner might have," Wilson says. He says he respects that position and is member of Moms Demand Action because he shares goal of reducing gun violence.

Wilson's interview is over. They're taking a 10-minute break before the next interview, which, according to the agenda, is Thomas Loquvam.

Next up is Thomas Loquvam, general counsel at EPCOR. Dems are opposed to him because he previously worked at Pinnacle West and is the brother of Jessica Pacheco, who ran APS/Pinnacle West's political operations.

Loquvam has talked a lot about wanting to maximize the number of competitive districts, which has raised some eyebrows among Republicans as well.

Lerner asks Loquvam how he can be impartial given political activities of employer. Loquvam is an attorney who worked for Pinnacle West, had own practice, now works for EPCOR.

Loquvam says when he started his own practice, he called friends and contacts looking for clients. Former Ducey aide Mike Liburdi was shedding clients because he was about to be appointed to a federal judgeship, so Loquvam did some compliance work for Ducey's PAC.

Loquvam's interview is done. Next up is Gregory Teesdale, an executive/CFO with various tech startups.

Teesdale says someone recently asked him whether he leans Dem or Republican. “Tell me the issue and I’ll tell you which way I lean. And I think that’s the true definition of a moderate independent.”

Teesdale says he has a background in finance, accounting and global supply chains. “I’m pretty good with numbers.”

Teesdale says he's worked for a lot of venture capital-backed tech startups, including the company that created fingerprint sensor used by Apple of iPhones, Macbooks

Teesdale is the only one of the five independent chair candidates the @azdemparty hasn't raised objections to. Not sure if that's helpful, hurtful or neutral.

Asked his thoughts on communities of interest, one of the 6 criteria the IRC must use, Teesdale said it's hard to define. But people tend to gravitate toward people who are similar to them in some way, can mean a lot of things. “I hate to define it too strictly.”

Teesdale says his political contributions have probably leaned more toward Republicans, says he's mainly just given to friends who have run, like Dave Sitton and @LeaPeterson

Asked how he'll manage conflict, Teesdale says he's worked with a lot of companies where people were averse to new ideas or doing things differently. “I’m the opposite. I love change.”

The other candidate Teesdale mentioned contributing to is Randi Dorman, who was a Dem candidate for Tucson mayor in 2019

Teesdale's interview is over. Next up is Erika Schupak Neuberg, a psychologist with a practice in Scottsdale and a national board member at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Dems have taken aim at Neuberg over $3700 in contributions to Ducey's campaign and PAC, but she's got a long history of donating to candidates from both parties, including most members of Arizona's congressional delegation.

Neuberg says she has long history of working across political spectrum, bringing Republicans and Democrats together. “I am agnostic when it comes to party. I reject identity politics.”

“My motives are pure. I think if you look at my background you know I have worked with all different types of people. And the common thread … is to advance individual freedoms and to advance the well-being of everybody.”

Neuberg addresses political contribution history, says being involved in political process helps her get to know people in Congress. “Every check is with an explicit motivation to advance the US-Israel relationship.”

“Every single check I wrote is for the intention of having an educational opportunity."

Neuberg says the last IRC got a bit tripped up on the issue of competitive districts, to the detriment of other criteria

Neuberg says she stepped back from AIPAC and pro-Israel policy when sought IRC chairmanship

Though Dems have taken shots at her, Neuberg says some Republicans are wary of her too. “I understand. It’s sensitive. It’s scary. This is our state’s future.”

Neuberg said her definition of success is, “We have a fair map that adheres to the constitution and the mission. That’s probably first and foremost."

Another definition of success is "no chronic 3-2 votes," Neuberg says. If I’m your chair, some 3-2 votes might be necessary, but if it’s always 3-2 and especially if it’s always in one direction, that’s a warning side. So my success would be a robust majority.”

That seems like a direct reference to the last IRC, which was characterized by frequent 3-2 votes, with the chair voting with the two Dems. That answer is probably music to Republicans' ears.

Neuberg said success would also mean avoiding litigation, cites comments from CACA member @dbseiden, who said they if they pick the right five people, maybe the IRC could avoid the litigation that usually comes with redistricting.

Neuberg's interview is done. They'll finish up with Megan Carollo, the owner of a luxury floral boutique in Scottsdale.

Carollo describes herself as a "numbers nerd," before opening her flower shop she did lots of data analysis when she worked in statistics. “I know this commission is going to have a tremendous amount of it.”

Carollo says she has to manage a lot of conflict in the wedding industry, and says that will serve her well as IRC chair. “You have to mediate budgets and emotions, and ultimately you have to kind of find the common ground for everyone and keep everyone level-headed."

You only have one shot when you're planning a wedding, Carollo says. "It’s one day. It’s one moment. You don’t get a do-over.”

Carollo says she doesn't know if there's a hierarchy of redistricting criteria. “I don’t think one is any more important than the other.” That won't sit well with some, given that the AZ Constitution says to consider competitiveness only when it won't hurt other criteria.

Carollo's interview is over and the IRC has taken a recess. Candidate interviews are done.

We're back. The IRC's next order of business is an overview from legal counsel on some of the timing requirements the commission faces.

The IRC won't be making a decision today on who to select as independent chair. They've received more than 300 public comments, and they want some time to go over the comments and to digest the interviews.

The IRC will meet at 9 am on Thursday to (hopefully) select the independent chair. They have until Jan. 29 to decide.

And we're adjourned. See you on Thursday everyone.