[img_assist|nid=1464|title=R to L: Titla, Kirkpatrick, Maupin, Shanker, Korn, Brown|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=384|height=185]

CAMP VERDE -- The Congressional Candidate Forum on the Future of Arizona's Natural Resources brought out most of the AZ-1 field, where the candidates who showed up navigated their way through a proving ground of environmental questions. The whole panel was in agreement on the need for renewable energy investment, even if not all saw a consensus on the fact of global climate change. The biggest question of the afternoon wasn't asked by the moderator, however - it was "where is Sydney Hay?"

The seven participants included Democrats Jeffrey Brown, Ann Kirkpatrick, Howard Shanker and Mary Kim Titla, Republicans Tom Hansen and Preston Korn, and independent Brent Maupin. Two other Republicans who filed, Sandra Livingstone and Barry Hall, declined to participate.

However, Sydney Hay, who has been embraced by the Republican establishment, including the state party and numerous Republican state legislators and members of Congress, did not show up. Audience members and press instead received a letter from Hay that apologized for her absence but gave no explanation.

"Please accept my apology for missing today's forum," read the letter. 

"As you know, the nearly 60,000 square miles of Arizona's First District, and the myriad of important events therein, make it difficult to be all the places that I would like to be on any given day. Today, a conflict has arisen which makes it impossible for me to be with you."

Trish Rensink, who organized the forum on behalf of the Arizona Wildlife Federation and a host of other environmental organizations, said Hay had confirmed she would be there in March when the invitation was first extended, and, as recently as "a few weeks ago," was given a list of topics that might be discussed.

Rensink said the Hay campaign did not call to cancel, and offered no explanation of what Hay was doing instead.

"It was a surprise when she didn't show up," said Rensink.

Though the event was held Sunday, PolitickerAZ.com wanted to give Sydney Hay the chance to answer some of the questions presented to the panel, and the Hay campaign expressed interest in responding. However, despite follow-up requests, Hay has still not given a reason for her absence nor signaled a further desire to give her responses to the issues.       

For the candidates who did attend the panel, the discussion brought to light interesting points of concurrence and departure.

One of the biggest flashpoints was over the existence of global climate change. Preston Korn said on the topic, "From what I know right now, we don't have consensus in scientific community. So we must first agree in the scientific community on the causes and effects before we heavily tax or spend taxpayers' money." He did however state he wanted to diminish the nation's reliance on fossil fuels and invest in renewable technologies.

Jeffrey Brown delivered a differing opinion head-on:

"Contrary to what I've heard here at the panel, I don't think the jury is out on global climate change. I would forcefully disagree with that. Every respected scientist and respected scientific organization has said climate change is a reality."

Only Brent Maupin had actually joined Korn in questioning the validity of humans as a factor in global climate change, and in identifying climate change as an imminent threat. Attorney Howard Shanker, who has worked on numerous environmental cases, called its mitigation "one of the most pressing needs we have as a nation."

Tom Hansen took a position usually ascribed to Democrats more than Republicans, saying it is the "responsibility of the federal government to develop... legislation to control the growth of carbon and greenhouse gasses." Hansen declared he has "developed more renewable energy than any other individual in the state of Arizona," and touted the Solar Grand Plan, which seeks to transform Arizona into the "Middle East of solar energy."

When it came time to discuss specific plans of action on climate change, all candidates favored either extending the Investment Tax Credit, which is currently locked up in congressional procedure and expires at the end of the year, or providing tax incentives and government investments in research and development.

The only time the discussion was interrupted by spontaneous applause was when Brent Maupin tearfully discussed his best friend's son, who returned from Iraq with post-traumatic stress disorder. Maupin linked energy independence with ending the Iraq War.

"We've got to get out of the Middle East, and the answer is alternative fuel," said Maupin. "It's tax incentives, it's monetary policies guaranteeing loans with low interest, and it's public utilities supporting programs for solar and wind. It's essential, it's how we get out of Iraq, it's how we get out of the war, and it's how we become responsible."

One other area where the candidates diverged was on mining at the Grand Canyon. The Democrats and Maupin took the line that more clean-up needed to be employed at the Grand Canyon, and the Democratic field expressed opposition to increased uranium mining around the national park.

However, Tom Hansen said if there are economic benefits to be derived, mining around the park "shouldn't be off-limits." Preston Korn maintained that new technology would reduce the environmental impact of mining. "Are we still using 8-track tapes?" he asked.

It is speculated that it was questions related to mining that made Hay decide against attending the event, but again, the campaign has not said why Hay did not show up. Hay is the president of the Arizona Mining Association, which lobbies on behalf of mining companies.