Speakers
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Thursday Lunch
Dave “Fitz” Fitzsimmons
Dave Fitzsimmons is the cartoonist and columnist for The Arizona Daily Star, where he began drawing cartoons back when Geronimo was just a paperboy. A Pulitzer finalist, Fitz’ cartoons are syndicated to over 800 news publications around the world.
Last year, the Arizona Press Club voted him the best columnist in the state. No one in the news or in his audience is safe when his pen is uncapped. Described as a “flaming moderate at the fringe of America’s center,” Fitz is a snappy dresser who loves reading hate mail from readers and making his kids laugh.
Plenary Session
The panelists for Thursday morning plenary session will give an update on the Drought Contingency Plan.
Timothy Thomure, Tucson Water
Timothy M. Thomure, PE, PMP, is the Director of Tucson Water. He has over 20 years of experience working in public utilities, private industry, and consulting, where he has applied his expertise in water recycling, water supply, distribution systems, and strategic planning. Prior to becoming Tucson Water’s Director, was the Water Reuse Practice Lead for HDR Engineering. He also worked for the City of Tucson from 1999 to 2007 as an Environmental Inspector and later as a Water Program Supervisor for the Clearwater Renewable Resource Facility and other projects. Thomure has served as a member of the National Board of the WateReuse Association, as chair of the Reuse Committee for the Arizona Water Association, and as president of WateReuse Arizona; he has also chaired a statewide steering committee to guide the implementation of recommendations on future indirect potable reuse from the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Water Sustainability.
Clint Chandler, Arizona Department of Water Resources
Clint Chandler is the assistant director for ADWR. Prior to joining the department, Clint was employed by the U.S. Senate, having served on the respective staffs of Senators Pete Domenici, Jon Kyl, and Jeff Flake. He worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative staffer attending to budget and tax matters and has occupied State-based staff roles. Clint also has acted as the vice president of business advocacy and government relations for the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and was employed as the principal budget analyst for the New Mexico House Republican Caucus. Clint is an honors graduate of the University of New Mexico with a triple major in economics, history, and political science and was a member of the university’s football team. He has lived and studied in Mexico.
Ted Cooke, Central Arizona Project
Ted Cooke joined CAP in 1999 and was appointed General Manager in March 2016. He is responsible for carrying out its policy directives and overseeing all operational aspects of the CAP. Previously, he served as Interim General Manager and Deputy General Manager, Finance and Administration. Ted’s career has spanned over 35 years in utilities, technology, finance, and operations has also included positions at Xerox Corporation, Luz International Limited, and OESI Power Corporation. In addition to his B.S. in physics, MBA in Operations Management, and DBA, he holds several professional certifications in business management, finance and accounting, risk management, fraud prevention, government finance, and information technology.
Paul Orme, Pinal County Agriculture
Paul R. Orme’s practice focuses on representing special districts in water, electric power, and utility law matters. He serves as General Counsel to five special districts in Pinal County: the Central Arizona Irrigation and Drainage District, Maricopa-Stanfield Irrigation & Drainage District, New Magma Irrigation & Drainage District, and Electrical Districts Nos. 3 and 4 of Pinal County. Mr. Orme has worked with most of these districts for 30 years, during which they have built their water and electricity delivery systems through the issuance of hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue and general obligation bonds. Mr. Orme makes regular appearances before the CAP board of directors, the Arizona Water Banking Authority, the Arizona State Certification Board, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Arizona State Land Department on issues relating to the irrigation districts he represents. He has also appeared before the Arizona Corporation Commission and the Arizona Power Authority on behalf of his electrical district clients.