Before moving to Arizona in 1988, he was an administrator, researcher, and consultant with the California court system where he served as Court Management Consultant for the National Center for State Courts, California Supreme Court, Los AngelesMunicipal Court, Sacramento Municipal Court and San DiegoSuperior Court from 1976 through 1986. Newman served three terms as an Arizona state representative, representing Santa Cruz, Greenlee, Cochise, and Graham counties from 1993-1998. Subsequently, he was elected to as a Cochise County Supervisor while living in Bisbee, Arizona. In 2008, during his second term as County Supervisor, he launched a campaign for the Arizona Corporation Commission and won. He lost re-election to the post in 2012.
2008 Corporation Commission Race
During Newman's first campaign for Corporation Commission in 2008, he and 3 other Democrats advanced past the primary election. Along with Sam George and Sandra Kennedy, Newman campaigned on bringing renewable solar energy to Arizona. Newman was endorsed by The Arizona Republic and the Tucson Citizen and by multiple elected officials such as Congressmen Harry Mitchell and Ed Pastor. Newman and Kennedy ran as clean candidates under Arizona's Clean Elections system while George ran a traditional campaign. Under Arizona's Clean Elections system, the state is required to match funds raised by traditionally funded candidates up to a certain amount. The three were dubbed The Solar Team. George contributed nearly half a million dollars of his own money and pooled this money with Newman's and Kennedy's Clean Election funds. With this strategy, the Solar Team was able to run numerous television ads and post signs all over the state of Arizona. This brought more attention than normally paid to the Corporation Commission race. Although George donated much of his own money, only Newman and Kennedy won in the General Election.
Later campaigns
Newman lost re-election to the commission in 2012. Newman sought re-election to the commission again in 2018, but failed to collect sufficient nominating signatures. Newman is again seeking re-election to the commission in 2020.
