Vote For State Public Service Commissioners This June
By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor
JUNE 5 CORRECTION: Originally, the Sentinel reported that Daniel Blackman had been disqualified from running for the Georgia Public Service Commission. However, he is still qualified and on the ballot pending a June 10 hearing.
He was disqualified temporarily until a Fulton County Superior Court judge issued an injunction. Per a June 3 article in “The Current,” Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger ruled that Blackman failed to prove that he established residence inside the district at least one year before this November’s general election (as required by state law), but the Fulton judge stayed the ruling until a hearing could be held.
Be sure to check the latest updates online before heading to the polls.
Early voting began before the June 10 hearing, making this a complicated issue that could impact the election results.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Head to the polls on or before June 17 to vote for the state commission members who regulate public utilities. Two out of the five seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission are on the ballot in this special primary election.
It appears that many citizens are unfamiliar with the Public Service Commission (the Sentinel staff included), but this board can have a significant impact on the economy, industry, safety, and efficiency of our state.
As the commission’s website reads, “The Georgia Public Service Commission has exclusive power to decide what are fair and reasonable rates for services under its jurisdiction. It must balance Georgia citizens’ need for reliable services and reasonable rates with the need for utilities to earn a reasonable return on investment.”
Although both districts on this ballot are south of us (Dade County is in District Five), the election is statewide. Like Dade’s county commissioner elections, the candidates must live in their respective districts, but all registered Georgia voters can vote on each seat.
As of May 28, only 14 people in Dade and just over 6,000 statewide had cast their ballot through early voting.
The candidates on the Republican ballot are:
- District Two: Tim Echols (incumbent)
- District Two: Lee Muns
- District Three: Fitz Johnson (incumbent)
The candidates on the Democratic ballot are:
- District Two: Alicia M. Johnson
- District Three: Daniel Blackman (DISQUALIFIED due to residency issues)
- District Three: Peter Hubbard
- District Three: Robert Jones
- District Three: Keisha Sean Waites
All of the qualified candidates have campaign websites except for Waites who appears to only have an Instagram page and X account as of press time.
One utility company that routinely hits the news cycle is Georgia Power, and the Public Service Commission has a direct impact on our power bills. As Hubbard wrote on his website, “Residential power bills in Georgia have gone up $60 per month in just the last 3 years. This is because the current Public Service Commission approves each fossil-fuel plan that Georgia Power Company gives it.”
Alicia Johnson’s website reads, “The Georgia PSC is supposed to protect the people—but instead, it’s been protecting profits.”
Speaking as an incumbent, Echols posted the following questions that he thinks through to his website:
- Is it right for consumers and Georgia families?
- Have all other reasonable options been exhausted?
- Does it improve the business climate in Georgia?
- Will it mean more jobs for Georgia families?
- Is the timing right for this decision?
See last week’s Sentinel for early voting days and times, election day information, and voting precinct information.
