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PSC candidate reaches out

• A North Georgia candidate for the Public Service Commission reaches out to Southwest Georgia voters.

Carlton Fletcher

ALBANY — Jim Powell may be new to the game of politics, but the Democratic candidate for the vacant District 4 Public Service Commission seat has an energy-related background that he feels easily trumps all current PSC members and candidates.

The Hiawassee native worked 35 years in the energy industry, the last 20 as a director with the U.S. Department of Energy.

A semi-retired energy consultant with “a lot of fire left in my belly,” Powell decided to jump into the PSC race to try and help deal with the current energy crisis that is gripping the nation.

“With everything that’s happening with energy issues in the country, I decided I could complain or use my experience to try and do something about it,” Powell, 59, said. “I’ve never run for office before, and my wife thinks I’m crazy, but I think I can make a difference.

“Public Service Commission members are a lot of times politicians who don’t have much energy experience. I have 35 years of experience, including a senior executive position with the DOE where I managed a $300 million program.”

While the PSC’s District 4 is located in North Georgia, all five commission positions are determined by statewide vote.

“That’s probably not fair, but the wisdom of the General Assembly is that this is the most equitable way to choose (PSC commissioners),” Powell said. “What you had back as recently as the early ’90s was a commission elected statewide that generally was made up of candidates from metro Atlanta. Legislators decided to divide the state into districts so that there was equitable representation, but candidates are still elected statewide.”

Powell has campaigned heavily in metro Atlanta, but he has made a concerted effort to reach out to voters in the rest of the state.

“I parked my gas-guzzling truck and got me a car that’ll get good gas mileage,” the candidate said. “I’ve been everywhere from Rabun County in extreme North georgia down to Savannah, and I’ve reached out to other parts of the state. I hope to get to Southwest Georgia, but I’ve made contact with Democratic leaders there.

“I think folks are fed up with the way this current group of Republicans has messed up our country. And all five members of the Georgi PSC are Republicans. Regardless of the party in charge, I don’t think members of one political party should have complete control.”

Still, Atlanta voters are crucial to the election.

“I want to represent all of Georgia,” Powell said. “But I have to be realistic; I have to make an impact in Atlanta. One guy ran for office in the state and carried 139 of the 159 counties but still lost. That’s the reality.”

Powell, who served in the Navy from 1968-1972 and owns an MBA degree from the University of North Florida, said the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels has helped spur the energy crisis. And while he says he doesn’t expect that to change anytime soon, the nation must find ways to focus on renewable and alternate energy sources.

“I propose that we won’t get off fossil fuels in my lifetime,” he said. “What we have to do is burn it cleaner and find other fuel sources. There’s not a lot of wind and solar power in Georgia, but we certainly should look into bio-mass fuels. There is an abundance of wood waste suitable for fuel use in the state.

“Any time you hang your star on one particular fuel source, you put yourself in jeopardy. We’ve got to create renewable energy and focus our attention on a number of best practices in energy efficiency. And we must get more input from the citizens of the state. The Public Service Commission is there for the rate-payers.”

Powell will face Bob Indech in the July 15 Democratic primary, while Pam Davidson and Lauren “Bubba” McDonald face off in the Republican primary. Libertarian Brandon Givens will face the two primary winners in the general election Nov. 4.

Powell, whose Web site jimpowellforgapsc@.at.gmail.com offers more information, recently received the endorsement of the Georgia Conservation Voters organization.

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