ATLANTA (AP) — Voters in Georgia will select among eight contenders to occupy two positions on the Georgia Public Service Commission, an elected statewide board responsible for determining the rates Georgia Power Co. can impose on consumers for electricity.
The qualification period for candidates ended on Thursday. Typically, Georgia does not hold statewide elections in odd-numbered years, but these were moved to November 4th from their original scheduling in 2022 due to postponed elections. A legal case that failed to challenge The state-wide voting system is considered discriminatory against Black individuals. There haven't been any Georgia Public Service Commission elections. been held since 2022 because of the lawsuit.
Across the state, voters choose commission members; however, these individuals must reside within one of five specific regions. This year, District 2 and District 3 will hold elections. District 2 encompasses areas ranging from Atlanta’s eastern outskirts through cities like Athens, Augusta, and Savannah. Meanwhile, District 3 covers central metropolitan Atlanta including Fulton, Dekalb, and Clayton counties. Currently, all five positions are held by Republican representatives.
Incumbent Tim Echols from District 2 will face off against fellow Republican Lee Muns in the primary election scheduled for June 17. Muns previously ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Columbia County Commission back in 2018. On the Democratic side, Alicia Johnson from Augusta does not have any competition in the primaries and will go up against the chosen Republican candidate in November.
In District 3, incumbent Fitz Johnson faces no competition from Republicans, whereas four candidates compete for the Democratic nomination.
The Democratic candidates consist of Daniel Blackman, who contested for the commission in 2020 but did not win; however, he was subsequently named as the southern regional administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Joe Biden’s administration. Another contender is Keisha Sean Waites, formerly a representative in the state legislature and an ex-member of the Atlanta City Council, whose latest political endeavor saw her fail to secure the position of Fulton County Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts. Running alongside them is Peter Hubbard, someone with experience working for the Georgia Center for Clean Energy Solutions. Rounding out this group of Democrats is Robert Jones, stating his background includes work involving energy within governmental bodies and corporate sectors alike.
Should no Democrat secure a majority in the June 17 primary, a runoff will take place on July 15.
Incumbents Echols and Johnson were meant to run in 2022 , however, once the lawsuit concluded, state lawmakers decided They would run for office this year. The same legislation realigned the terms of all five commissioners, granting each one an extended period exceeding the typical six years.
In 2021, Johnson was selected for the commission by Governor Brian Kemp and has not yet stood for election. His original plan was to complete the remaining two years of his predecessor’s term in 2022, followed by another bid in 2024. The victor from the District 3 contest will then campaign for a full six-year term in 2026.
If Echols emerges victorious this year, he will serve for five more years until 2030, with elections occurring just once every fourteen years due to his initial win. After this period, he will return to the standard schedule of six-year terms.
Each of the remaining three commissions will receive an additional two years added to their present tenure. Tricia Pridemore, originally slated to appear before voters in 2024, will now stand for election in 2026 instead. Commissioners Jason Shaw and Bubba McDonald, set for re-election in 2026, will extend their service until 2028. After this extension, these roles will return to having six-year terms.
The final date to register for the upcoming primary election on June 17 is May 19. Early in-person voting will commence on May 27.