How PSC members (and candidates) play by the rules

This week, the state Supreme Court rejected its second residency challenge this year based on the law that requires four out of five state Public Service Commissioners to work in Atlanta but live somewhere else. One commissioner also called for the law’s repeal, based on its impracticality. Here’s how PSC members juggle —- and commission candidates plan to juggle —- the job’s statutory demands and state residency requirements. Locations outside their districts are marked with asterisks. Commutes are from MapQuest and do not factor in traffic.

*outside the district

H. Doug Everett

District 1

Homestead exemption: none

Residence(s):

1) Dougherty County, rents room in son’s house

Commute: 3 hours, 8 minutes

2) Fulton, rental apartment*

Commute: 4 minutes

3) Habersham County, home*

Commute: 2 hours

Mail: Fulton County

Car registered: Dougherty County

Votes: Dougherty County

State car: No

State gas card: No

Mileage reimbursement this year: $6,390.37

John Monds

Candidate District 1

Homestead exemption: Grady County

Residence(s):

Grady County

Commute: 3 hours, 58 minutes

Mail: Grady County

Votes: Grady County

Car registered: Grady County

Plan: Either rent in Atlanta or stay with brother in Atlanta *

Robert Baker

District 2

Homestead exemption: Clarke County

Residence(s):

1) Condo, Athens, Clarke County

Commute: 1 hour, 30 minutes

2) Wife’s house, DeKalb County *

Commute: 15 minutes

Mail: Clarke County

Votes: Clarke County

Car registered: Clarke County

State car: No

State gas card: No

Mileage reimbursement this year: $527.27

Chuck Eaton

District 3

Homestead exemption: Fulton County

Residence(s): Fulton County

Commute: 16 minutes

Mail: Fulton County

Votes: Fulton County

Car registered: Fulton County

State car: No

State gas card: No

Mileage reimbursement this year: $604.99

Angela Speir

District 4

(not running for re-election)

Homestead exemption: Gwinnett County

Residence(s): Gwinnett County

Commute: 35 minutes

Mail: Gwinnett County

Votes: Gwinnett County

Car registered: Gwinnett County

State car: No

State gas card: No

Mileage reimbursement this year: $94.75

Lauren McDonald

Candidate District 4 Homestead exemption: Habersham County

Residence: Habersham County

Commute: 1 hour, 43 minutes

Mail: Habersham County

Car registered: Habersham County

Votes: Habersham County

Plan if elected: “I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”

Jim Powell

Candidate District 4

Homestead exemption: Towns County

Residence(s):

1) Towns County

Commute: 2 hours, 15 minutes

2) Cobb County *

Commute: 30 minutes

Mail: Towns County and Cobb County

Votes: Towns County

Car registered: Towns County

Plan if elected: Likely sell Cobb County condo and rent or buy a condo in Atlanta. *

Brandon Givens

Candidate District 4

Homestead exemption: None

Residence(s): Hall County

Commute: 1 hour, 2 minutes

Votes: Hall County

Mail: Hall County

Car registered: Hall County

Plan if elected: Either rent a second apartment in Atlanta or commute. *

Stan Wise

District 5

Homestead exemption: Cobb County

Residence(s): Cobb County

Commute: 36 minutes

Mail: Cobb County

Votes: Cobb County

Car registered: Cobb County

State car: Yes

State gas card: $2,217.47 through September

Sources: PSC records, voting records, interviews of commissioner and candidates