Susan Bitter Smith

Bitter Smith received her bachelor's degree from Arizona State University in 1977. In 1982 she graduated from Arizona State with her M.B.A. After graduating she remained active with the school as honorary chair of the ASU MBA Alumni Association. In 2003, she received the Alumni Achievement Award. == Previous work history ==

President of the Central Arizona Project (2007–2011) During Bitter Smith's tenure as president, she was involved with the federal finalization of the Gila River Indian Community Water Rights Settlement. This settlement was the largest Indian water rights settlement in U.S. history and went into full effect in 2008. U.S. Senator Jon Kyl was the primary sponsor of the legislation pertinent to the settlement. Bitter Smith commented on the work: The work started during Grady Gammage's term as president and continued by Bill Perry, was finalized during my term as we finally resolved the Gila River Indian Community Water Rights Settlement... City Council, Scottsdale, Arizona (1988–1992) Bitter Smith served as a councilmember from 1988 to 1992. During that time she participated on the Charter Review Advisory Committee, Council District Advisory Task Force, and Charter Review Task Force ==Controversy==

Bitter Smith received significant media attention regarding a complaint filed against her with Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich for conflict of interest. On September 15, 2015, in an article titled "Susan Bitter Smith Should Resign," the Arizona Republic wrote, "The Susan Bitter Smith death watch has officially begun." Bitter Smith has lobbied for the telecommunications industry, but also regulated the telecommunications industry. Bitter Smith is listed as a lobbyist for the cable industry and the telecommunications industry in the Arizona Capital Times Book of Lobbyists for years 2013, 2014 and 2015. She joined the Corporation Commission, which regulates the telecommunications industry, in 2013. Attorney General investigation As of 2015, the Arizona Attorney General's office began investigating a complaint that seeks to have Bitter Smith removed from the Arizona Corporation Commission due to conflict-of-interest issues. As chair of the commission, Bitter Smith was in charge of regulating the telecommunications industry. At the same time, she worked as a lobbyist for the industry. In addition to serving on the Arizona Corporation Commission, Bitter Smith managed her own public relations firm called Technical Solutions. In 2015, she served as a lobbyist for the Scottsdale National Golf Club. The golf club wanted a zoning change that would require the Arizona Public Service Company (APS). to move a half-built electrical substation. APS is regulated by the Arizona Corporation Commission. (Bitter Smith was the chair of the commission). In the Channel 12 TV story, reporter Brahm Resnik said: This is a very serious allegation. A public official who is elected to oversee APS is accused of clearing the way for an APS power station—not for the public's benefit, but for the benefit of her paying client. That alleged conflict of interest could cost Susan Bitter Smith her job. Bitter Smith's lobbying firm Bitter Smith and her husband own Technical Solutions. It is a public affairs firm. The company described itself on its website as a "full service government affairs services including direct federal, state and local lobbying activities with agencies ranging from the Federal Communications Commission, to the Arizona Corporation Commission, to the Arizona Legislature and Arizona municipalities." The description from Technical Solution's website was removed after Ryan filed the complaint against Bitter Smith. ==See also==