A report published this week by The Arizona Republic political reporter Laura Gersony raises questions about a potential conflict of interest involving state Sen. Brian Fernandez and Arizona Western College executive Lorraine Stofft.
According to Gersony, Fernandez, a Democrat, has listed a Yuma home owned by Stofft, AWC's vice president for advancement, as his residence since 2021.
The Republic reports that the residency would satisfy the legal requirement that Fernandez reside in the legislative district he represents. However, the report raises questions about a potential conflict of interest because of Fernandez's role in advocating for millions of dollars in state funding for the college.
According to the report, Arizona Western College received $15 million in state funding for workforce development in fiscal 2024 and publicly credited Fernandez with helping secure the money.
Gersony notes that it is not unusual for a Yuma-area lawmaker to advocate for funding for AWC, but that it does raise questions about transparency and potential conflicts.
According to Gersony, Fernandez did not respond to questions about whether he pays rent, has a lease agreement or sought ethics guidance regarding the arrangement. Stofft also did not respond to the newspaper's requests for comment.
This is not the first time Fernandez has faced questions about a potential conflict of interest. In a report published in March, The Arizona Republic questioned Fernandez's role in securing $3 million in state funding for Onvida Health, a Yuma hospital where he occupies a senior leadership role.
KAWC reached out to Brian Fernandez and Lorraine Stofft for comment on the concerns raised in The Arizona Republic's report and is awaiting their responses.
The report by Gersony can be found here: Dem lawmaker sought funds for college tied to his residence
Gersony also discussed her reporting in a follow-up interview on KJZZ's "The Show," which airs weekdays on KAWC. You can find that interview here: This AZ senator again facing allegations of conflict of interest regarding Yuma college funding
Disclosure: Arizona Western College is a license holder for KAWC. Lorraine Stofft who was mentioned in the report serves as the college's vice president for advancement and oversees KAWC.
