SIERRA VISTA — District 2 will have a new representative to the Cochise County Board of Supervisors starting next year.

Paul Newman, the current supervisor for District 2, announced Friday that he is starting the process to run for a seat on the Arizona Corporation Commission and will not pursue a third term on the Board of Supervisors.

“I’m the clean energy, clean elections candidate,” the Democrat said in a news release issued by his campaign. “My life of public service has been as both an advocate and a steward for a sustainable economy and environment.”

This would be Newman’s second attempt to be on the commission, which oversees utilities, the incorporation of businesses and organizations, securities regulation and railroad and pipeline safety. In 1998, he lost to Tony West by just more than 3,000 votes.

Newman was in Phoenix on Friday and could not be reached for comment, but the communications director for his campaign, Ana Varela, said Newman turned in the initial paperwork to become a candidate.

Deputy Secretary of State Kevin Tyne confirmed Friday afternoon that Newman filed the paperwork to start the process of becoming a candidate. Newman, like other candidates throughout the state, has until 5 p.m. on June 4 to turn in the required number of signatures and paperwork.

Bob Bland, chair of Cochise County Democratic Party, said Newman is an “excellent candidate” for the commission. Bland said Newman will have to overcome the domination of candidates from Maricopa County, and it will take support from area residents to get Southern Arizona represented on the corporation commission.

The last Cochise County resident to run for the commission was Democrat Ric Boyer of Sierra Vista in 2006.

Varela said Newman has been considering a run for the corporation commission in the past few months. His consideration for becoming a candidate included a good selection of Democratic candidates for this fall’s District 2 race. He felt comfortable with the candidates who have taken steps to run for the office, she said.

The Cochise County elections Web site lists three Democrats, a Republican and a non-partisan as having taken the initial steps to become a candidate. They have until the June 4 deadline to turn in the proper number of signatures and paperwork to officially become a candidate.

The Democrats who are listed are McNeal residents Ann English, Charles Flanagan and Joe Green. Green also is listed under the name Jose Verde. Harvey Allen of Elfrida is the Republican, and Matthew Alan “Matt” Cook of Bisbee is the non-partisan candidate.

District 2 includes Bisbee, Douglas, Tombstone, part of Hereford, Elfrida, McNeal and other portions of southeastern Cochise County.

Newman was a state legislator from 1993 to 1999, representing portions of Santa Cruz, Cochise, Graham and Greenlee counties.

In 2000, he was elected to be District 2’s representative to the Board of Supervisors, and he was re-elected in 2004. His term ends at the end of this year.