TELECOM ISSUES TAKE BACK SEAT IN MOST STATE RACES

Telecom didn’t figure as major issue this year. Most state commission contests focused on energy deregulation and related energy issues. When telecom came up in campaigns, central issues included consumer protection, rural infrastructure development, telemarketing abuses, customer account privacy.

Upsets included Ga. PSC, where 2 Democrat incumbents lost their bids for new terms. In contest for Dist. 4 seat, which represents northernmost part of state, incumbent Lauren McDonald (D) narrowly lost his bid for 2nd 6-year term against Duluth (Ga.) employment recruiter Angelia Speir (R). Speir won with 47.8% to McDonald’s 46.8%. Libertarian candidate James Harris polled 5.4%. Contest for Dist. 1, southernmost portion of state, saw incumbent Earleen Sizemore (D) defeated in her bid for her first full elected term. GOP challenger Doug Everett, Albany (Ga.) real estate appraiser, won with 52.8% of vote to Sizemore’s 47.2%. Sizemore was appointed to PSC last spring to fill vacancy left by death of Bob Durden. In final days of campaign, challengers assailed incumbents’ acceptance of contributions from managers, employees and associates of utilities, even though donations were legal. Energy-related issues also played part.

La. PSC saw upset in contest for single seat up for election. Veteran incumbent Comr. Don Owen (D) lost his bid for 4th 6-year term in Dist. 5 seat representing 24 parishes in northern La. He lost to another Democrat, State Sen. Foster Campbell (D-Bossier City), 51% to 49%. Both sides resorted to strident negative ads in campaign’s final days, with Campbell ads portraying Owen as placing utility interests ahead of consumers and hinting at conflict because Owen has son who’s utility lobbyist. Owen ads portrayed Campbell as irresponsible maverick who thought he was above laws. Other open PSC seat on 5-member PSC was decided in Oct. 5 primary, when PSC Chmn. Jay Blossman (R) won reelection to his 2nd 6-year term in Dist. 1, southeastern part of state.

S.D. PSC had 2 of its 3 seats up for election with Democrat incumbent upset. Contest for 6-year term saw PSC Vice Chmn. Pam Nelson (D) soundly defeated in her bid for 2nd term by ex-Sioux Falls Mayor Gary Hanson (R), 57% to 43%. Nelson also is vice chmn. of NARUC’s Consumer Affairs Committee and was in line to head panel next year. In contest for 4-year unexpired term of late Laska Shoenfelder, incumbent Comr. Bob Sahr (R), who was appointed to fill position until election, defeated Democrat Curt Johnson, Okla. schools & public lands commissioner who is being term- limited out of his current elected office. Sahr won, 52% to 48%. Campaigns focused on energy development issues and taxation of energy companies.

In Ariz. Corporation Commission (ACC) race, Comr. Jim Irvin (R) appeared to have become first ACC commissioner to succeed himself in office, narrowly defeating Phoenix attorney James Walsh (D), 50.3% to 49.7%, for new 4-year term. But unofficial tally didn’t include absentee ballots and delayed precincts. ACC had 3 seats up for election this year because of expansion to 5 members, which voters approved in 2000 referendum. Voters also allowed commissioners to serve consecutive 4-year terms on agency rather than single 6-year term. In contests for 2-year terms in 2 new seats, State Rep. Jeff Hatch-Miller (R-Phoenix) easily defeated Phoenix engineering consultant Roland James (D), aide to former ACC Comr. Renz Jennings 1985-1999. Hatch-Miller won 57.4% to 42.6%. Contest for the 2nd new seat was another close race. Former state Sen. George Cunningham (D) of Tucson got 50.9% of vote to edge out retired agricultural consultant Mike Gleason (R) of Sun City West, with 49.1%. That was another race where uncounted ballots could change outcome. Two-year winners must run for 4-year terms in 2004. Campaigns focused on energy and water regulation.

Two of 5 Mont. PSC seats were up for grabs, with PSC Chmn. Gary Feland (R) winning his 2nd 6-year term in Dist. 1, northwestern third of state. He defeated state Sen. Greg Jergeson (D-Chinook) 52.4% to 47.6%. Contest in Dist. 3, Helena/Great Falls area, had 2 PSC newcomers vying to succeed Comr. Bob Anderson (D), who didn’t seek another term. State Sen. John Cobb (R-Augusta) defeated Helena energy geologist Tom Schneider (D) 53.3%-46.7%. Campaigns focused on energy deregulation issues.

In Neb., PSC Chmn. Anne Boyle (D) won her 2nd 6-year term in Dist. 2 seat on 5-member agency, representing Omaha area. She defeated retired Omaha publisher Reid Kenedy (R), 53% to 47%. Boyle’s campaign stressed her experience and policy successes while Kenedy ran to ensure regulations benefited citizens equally across state.

In N.M., there was only one contested seat on Public Regulation Commission. Other 2 seats of 5-member body up for election had unopposed candidates. Contest for Dist. 5, Las Cruces and southwestern quarter of state, saw Las Cruces business consultant and former state representative Shirley Baca (D) defeat Las Cruces real estate developer Harold Foreman (R) 54% to 46%. Baca had beaten PRC Chmn. Tony Schaefer in Democratic primary. Campaign focused on experience and ethics. Also on Nov. 5 ballot was PRC Chmn. Lynda Lovejoy (D), running unopposed for her first full elected 4-year in Dist. 4, northwestern quarter of state. Unopposed candidate for Dist. 2 seat, representing Roswell and Pecos River Valley, was David King (R), who defeated PRC Comr. Rory McMinn in GOP primary.

N.D. PSC had one of its 3 seats up for election, with PSC Pres. Susan Wefald (R) easily winning her 3rd 6-year term on agency, trouncing state Rep. Bob Stefonowicz (D-Wildrose) 63.7% to 36.3%. Campaign focused on which candidate brought better experience to bear in dealing with utility issues.

Okla. Corporation Commission had one of its 3 seats up for election, with no incumbent, since Comr. Edward Apple didn’t run again. Contest saw Okla. City Deputy Mayor Jeff Cloud (R) defeat Democrat Keith Butler, Ada attorney and former transportation company owner, and Libertarian candidate Roger Bloxham, Tulsa businessman. Cloud won with 53.7% of vote to Butler’s 41.3% and Bloxham’s 5%. Main campaign issues were energy related.