Public service commissioners run statewide but represent one of five, region-specific districts. During his accomplished tenure as District 2 commissioner, Baker, 47, has proved himself a strong consumer advocate and shown a willingness to encourage Georgia Power, the state's largest electric utility, to consider adopting energy-efficiency programs that could help reduce demand on the power grid and improve the state's air quality. On that score, Baker has sometimes been a lone voice in the wilderness.
During his time on the commission, Baker also has worked hard to reduce unnecessary regulation, control costs and encourage competition. If re-elected, Baker has said, he plans to continue working for lower utility bills while guaranteeing that the state has enough generation capacity to meet growing demand.
Baker is facing off against 87-year-old Democrat Mac Barber, a fixture in state politics for decades who was first elected to the General Assembly in 1948 and later served four six-year terms on the Public Service Commission. Although Barber's colorful past and longevity prompted one political scientist to describe him as "a cat with nine lives," he's no match for Baker's level-headed, well-informed leadership.
Bobby Baker has served the state well on the Public Service Commission since 1993, after he became the first Republican elected to statewide constitutional office since Reconstruction.
Baker, who grew up DeKalb County, holds a law degree from the University of Georgia. He has served as PSC chairman.
Among his accomplishments in the past 12 years:
••Creating the largest toll-free dialing area in the world and converting more than 900 toll routes into toll-free routes in rural and south Georgia.
••Guiding Georgia through the deregulation of the trucking, telecommunications and natural gas industries.
••Expanding public access to the PSC through the creation of a Web site and holding more public hearings throughout the state than have ever been held by the agency.
••Fighting for consumer rights and aggressively penalizing companies guilty of fraud and slamming.
Another term for Baker will mean an experienced, dependable regulator will be on the PSC to deal with changes in federal energy policy, changes in technology and fluctuating energy prices, all issues critical to the future of Georgia.
It's hard to find a less sexy elected office than public service commissioner. The very name denotes a bureaucratic maze. Yet no government body has as much control over how much dough gets sucked from your wallet.
Within the Public Service Commission's halls, some of the country's biggest corporations -- Georgia Power, BellSouth, AT&T -- attempt to reap millions in profits by convincing commissioners to tack a couple more bucks onto your power, phone, cable and gas bills.
Besides that, the PSC plays referee to big companies warring with each other over access to natural gas pipelines, phone lines, and power transmission corridors. Again, millions in pure profit are on the line.
With so much at stake, corporate lawyers don't sit back twiddling their thumbs hoping the commission sees things their way. No, sir. They spend hours that stretch into weeks hanging around the PSC offices. They find sympathetic ears and get cozy with commissioners who are supposed to protect Georgia consumers -- not a corporation's bottom line.
Only one commissioner, Robert "Bobby" Baker Jr., has seriously tried to limit lobbying inside the commission. Last year, Baker asked the General Assembly to pass legislation restricting the amount of time lawyers can lobby at the PSC. Lawmakers let the bill die.
Still, it's comforting to know that elected officials of Baker's caliber still exist. Baker, a Republican, has consistently looked out for the interests of consumers on a commission unduly influenced by the corporations it's supposed to regulate.
Baker's Democratic opponent for the one PSC seat on the ballot this year, Mac Barber, has been a politician since 1948 and has served on the PSC for four separate terms since the 1970s. He's had a spotty attendance record and at one point resigned over allegedly improper campaign contributions (he was cleared of those charges). While Barber seems independent, he lacks Baker's grasp of complex regulatory issues.
Barber has been around for so long that the AJC's Cynthia Tucker once wrote he was "teetering on the brink of senility ... ." She wrote that 14 years ago, when Barber was 72.
But the octogenarian appears to be running a campaign based on name recognition, which amounts to a real threat for a Baker, who isn't a publicity hound -- just a stellar public servant.
10.21.04
NFIB, Georgia’s largest small-business advocacy group, announced Tuesday its endorsement of Public Service Commissioner Bobby Baker in his bid for reelection to the PSC. The small-business endorsement will mobilize NFIB members and grassroots activists to ensure victory for the Baker campaign on Election Day.
“Commissioner Baker has a proven record of helping small business, supporting the issues that are important to each of us,” said NFIB/Georgia State Director Melody Harrison. “He has worked tirelessly to help Main Street by pushing for lower utility rates that promise to help Georgia businesses grow and prosper.”
Harrison noted that responsible leadership and vision is vital to future stability and growth for Georgia’s small employers. Baker’s record of tackling issues critical to Main Street has come as a great relief for local employers. In a 2001 Georgia utility rate case, Baker voted to save small-business owners 14 percent on their electric bills.
Atlanta Journal Constitution
OUR OPINIONS: Let this light stay on
As a regulator of Georgia's public utilities, Baker has proved he's the consumer advocate to keep.
Staff
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Being elected to serve on the Georgia Public Service Commission isn't the most glamorous statewide political office, but it's easily one of the most important. The five-member commission is responsible for regulating public utilities, including providers of natural gas, electric and local phone service. As such, their decisions touch every Georgian almost daily and have far-reaching implications for the entire state.
Of the three Republicans running, incumbent Robert "Bobby" Baker is best in class. Although his opponents have strong credentials in their respective areas of expertise, Baker has proved himself a vigilant advocate for consumers. Recently, he helped win a minor victory in pushing Georgia Power toward including energy efficiency programs in its 20-year forecast to help reduce demand and improve air quality...
|
|
Become a supporter
Make a contribution
E-mail Bobby
|
