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DEL.ICIO.USRepublican Angela Speir says Democrat Jim Powell should replace her on PSC
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Specifically citing the elimination of the state office that advocates for consumers in utility cases, Republican out-going Public Service Commissioner Angela Speir on Thursday endorsed Democrat Jim Powell to replace her.
Powell faces Republican Lauren “Bubba” McDonald, who has served as chairman of the utility board.
The Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs, in response to Sonny Perdue’s demand for across-the-board 6 percent budget cuts, defunded the Consumers Utility Counsel.
When she was elected six years ago, Speir was an unknown Republican who won the office — but spent hardly any money on her campaign.
But in an interview with the AJC’s Margaret Newkirk, Speir — who declined to run for a second term — said the election of the Democrat in the race “is important. It’s really important, especially with the elimination of the Consumers Utility Counsel and energy prices skyrocketing.”
“If you look at Bubba McDonald’s [financial] disclosure, it reads like a Who’s Who list of utility lobbyists and lawyers. If Georgia consumers want to have a voice that is not beholden to the utilities, then I firmly believe that Jim Powell is the best candidate,” Speir said.
Comments
By Speir should stay!
September 18, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
I applaud Speir for putting Georgia first unlike most dire partisans leading our state today. The Public Service Commission should not be partisan. I wish she could stay because most voters don’t even know what the PSC does and will probably just vote for Bubba because he has an “R” next to his name. If they do, maybe they deserve what they will get… sold out
By Will Jones
September 18, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
Speir’s acting like a righteous American. Powell has my vote.
By crazy
September 18, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this
If Speir were putting Georgia first then she would stay on the PSC.
By Speir is Putting Ga First
September 18, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
For years now Speir continues to put Georgia first. Not everyone can be a life-long politician like Bubba.
By Helen Crane
September 18, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this
How sad to say goodbye (I hope not forever) to a class act: Angela Speir. Speir is the selfless, prudent conservative the country is painting Palin to be. During her tenure, she fought the good ol’boys and the Georgia Power and AGL and Scana lobbyists with courage and confidence and tenacity. She ran against good ol’ boy Bubba because he was taking his marching orders from Georgia Power (and whoever else would pay him) I am going to vote for Powell because Bubba was there and is mistaken if the thinks he can be like Perdue (having the Power Company lobbyist as his chief of staff) and sell the PSC to sun himself in money and glory. This R will be crossing party lines to vote for Powell!