TELECOM ISSUES TAKE BACK SEAT AS 9 STATES ELECT UTILITY COMMISSIONERS
Telecom issues are simmering on back burner in political campaigns for elected state commission seats as voters in 9 states prepare to decide Nov. 5 who will fill 17 state commission seats. Most state commission contests are focusing on energy deregulation. When telecom is brought up in campaigns, central issues include protecting consumers from abuses in retail telecom marketplace, developing rural telecom infrastructure to support delivery of advanced services, curtailing abusive telemarketers and protecting privacy of customers’ personal information. States electing commissioners next month include Ariz., Ga., La., Mont., Neb., N.M., N.D., Okla., and S.D.
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Ariz. Corporation Commission (ACC) has 3 seats up for election this year because of expansion of agency to 5 members from 3, which voters approved in 2000 referendum. Voters also allowed commissioners to serve consecutive 4-year terms on agency rather than single 6-year term. Incumbent Comr. Jim Irvin (R) is seeking return to agency for 4-year term. He’s challenged by Phoenix attorney James Walsh (D). In contests for 2-year terms in 2 new seats, State Rep. Jeff Hatch-Miller (R-Phoenix) is pitted against Phoenix engineering consultant Roland James (D), who was aide to former ACC Comr. Renz Jennings from 1985-99. Contest for 2nd new seat has former state Sen. George Cunningham (D) of Tucson running against retired agricultural consultant Mike Gleason of Sun City West. Winners this year can run for 4- year terms in 2004. Major points of difference among candidates concern energy and water regulation. Telecom issues have played relatively minor part in campaigns. Candidates see major telecom issues as rural infrastructure development, promotion of competition, protection of service quality, policing of marketplace and consumer protection.
Ga. PSC has 2 of its 5 seats up for election. In contest for Dist. 4 seat, which represents northernmost part of state, incumbent Lauren McDonald (D) is seeking his 2nd 6- year term against Duluth (Ga.) employment recruiter Angelia Speir (R). Contest for Dist. 1 seat, representing southern portion of state, will see incumbent Earleen Sizemore (D) seek her first full elected term against GOP challenger Doug Everett, an Albany (Ga.) real estate appraiser. Sizemore was appointed to PSC last spring to fill vacancy left by departure of former Comr. Bob Durden. Campaigns have focused on energy-related issues and low-key contests have attracted little attention in state.
La. PSC has one of its 5 seats up for election Nov. 5. Incumbent Comr. Don Owen (D) is seeking his 4th 6-year term in Dist. 5 seat representing 24 parishes in northern La. He’s running against another Democrat, State Sen. Foster Campbell (Bossier City). Under state’s run-off election system, all candidates for a state office compete in wide- open primary. Candidate getting more than 50% of vote is elected. If no candidate wins majority in primary, top 2 vote-getters face off in general election. Campbell has accused Owen of becoming too cozy with utilities PSC regulates, charge Owen denies. Owen’s campaign stresses his experience and his success in helping keep La. utility rates among lowest in country. Other open PSC seat was decided in Oct. 5 primary, when PSC Chmn. Jay Blossman (R) garnered majority of votes to win reelection to his 2nd 6-year term in Dist. 1 seat, representing southeastern part of state.
Two of 5 Mont. PSC seats are up for election. PSC Chmn. Gary Feland (R) is seeking his 2nd 6-year term in Dist 1 seat, which represents northwestern third of state. He’s challenged by state Sen. Greg Jergeson (D-Chinook). Contest for Dist. 3 seat, representing Helena/Great Falls area, has 2 PSC newcomers vying to succeed Comr. Bob Anderson (D), who didn’t seek another term. Dist. 3 race pits state Sen. John Cobb (R-Augusta) against Helena energy geologist Tom Schneider (D). Campaigns for both seats have revolved around energy deregulation issues and on a Nov. 5 referendum to repeal 2001 law that attempted to correct problems arising from flaws in 1997 Mont. electric deregulation act.
In Neb., PSC Chmn. Anne Boyle (D) is seeking her 2nd 6- year term in Dist. 2 seat on 5-member agency, representing Omaha area. She is opposed by retired Omaha publisher Reid Kenedy (R). Boyle is stressing her experience and success in helping keeping state to just 2 area codes and introduce N11 dialing for community services, deaf relay and travel information. Kenedy is known in Omaha area state for unsuccessful lawsuits he filed against Douglas County over timing of his house’s tax assessments, and said he’s running for PSC to ensure its regulations benefit citizens all across state.
In N.M., there’s only one contested seat Nov. 5 for Public Regulation Commission. Other 2 seats of 5-member body up for election have unopposed candidates. Contest for Dist. 5 seat, representing Las Cruces and southwestern quarter of state, is pitting Las Cruces business consultant and former state representative Shirley Baca (D) against Las Cruces real estate developer Harold Foreman (R). Baca defeated PRC Chmn. Tony Schaefer in Democratic primary. Foreman has attacked Baca’s ethics, accusing her of indirectly accepting utility campaign contributions through Democratic political action committee. Baca denied impropriety. She’s been stressing her experience in state govt. and her focus on need to structure deregulation and competition in energy and telecom to minimize adverse impacts on industry and consumers. Also on Nov. 5 ballot is PRC Chmn. Lynda Lovejoy (D), unopposed for her first full elected 4-year in Dist. 4 seat, representing northwestern quarter of state. Unopposed candidate for Dist. 2 seat, representing Roswell and Pecos River Valley, is David King (R), who defeated PRC Comr. Rory McMinn in GOP primary.
N.D. PSC has one of its 3 seat up for election. PSC Pres. Susan Wefald (R) is seeking her 3rd 6-year term on agency. She’s opposed by state Rep. Bob Stefonowicz (D- Wildrose). Both candidates agree top telecom priorities are consumer protection and enforcement of PSC’s regulations. But they differ on which one offers best approach to accomplishing those objectives. Wefald stressed her experience as PSC member while Stefonowicz cited his experience in state govt.
Okla. Corporation Commission has one of its 3 seats up for election, with no incumbent since Comr. Edward Apple chose not to run again. Contest pits Democrat Keith Butler, an Ada attorney and former transportation company owner, against Republican Jeff Cloud, Oklahoma City’s deputy mayor. Also on ballot is Libertarian candidate Roger Bloxham, Tulsa businessman. Main issues in campaign have been energy related. Only telecom issue to emerge has been how best to develop rural telecom infrastructure.
S.D. PSC has 2 of its 3 seat up for election. Contest for 6-year term has PSC Vice-chmn Pam Nelson (D) seeking her 2nd term. She’s opposed by ex-Sioux Falls Mayor Gary Hanson (R). There’s also contest for 4-year unexpired term of the late Laska Shoenfelder. In that contest, appointed Comr. Bob Sahr (R) is seeking election against Democrat Curt Johnson, Okla. schools & public lands commissioner, who’s being term- limited out of his current elected office. Campaigns for both seats have focused on minimizing harm to consumers from energy and telecom deregulation, promoting rural telecom development to attract business to state, promoting telecom service quality and dealing with telemarketing abuses. Candidates have dueled over which had best approach to dealing with these issues.