Commission Regulates Utility Rates in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE — Three Republicans, a Democrat, and an Independent are seeking election to the Louisiana Public Service Commission in the Nov. 6 election.The winner will fill the seat of Baton Rouge attorney Jimmy Field, who did not seek reelection.The Public Service Commission is considered one of the more powerful elected bodies in the state, because it regulates public utilities and public transportation in the State of Louisiana.

On Tuesday, the Republican Party of East Baton Rouge Parish announced its endorsement of former Lt. Gov. Scott Angelle of Breaux Bridge for the post.

The candidates are:

• Scott Angelle, Republican, Breaux Bridge, who is a small businessman, former Parish President of St. Martin Parish and former Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.  After the election of then-Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu as Mayor of New Orleans, he was appointed by Gov. Bobby Jindal to serve as interim lieutenant governor until Jay Dardenne was elected to the post in a special election.  He describes himself as “a fighter for the hardworking men and women who farm our land, harvest our seafood, and produce the energy that fuels our nation.” He led the effort to dedicate oil revenues to finance the coastal restoration and hurricane protection plan.

• Greg Gaubert, No Party, Thibodaux, is the owner and manager of the Carmel Inn in Thibodaux.  He serves as President of L. F. Gaubert & Co. Inc. for 23 years.

• Sarah Holliday, Republican, Baton Rouge, who is a Judicial Assistant for the 19th Judicial District Court.  She formerly served as Correctional Program Specialist at the Sheriff’s office and as a Master Level Counselor at the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.  She describes herself as “A community activist to bring changes to all mankind to submit to ethical behavior and core values such as integrity, respect, trust, stability, community involvement, honesty, empathy and fairness in daily activities. To reduce inequality, racism, political abuse, injustices, discrimination, lack of diversity and unfair wages.”

• State Rep. Erich Ponti, Republican, Baton Rouge, who has been a contractor for 20 years, represents Baton Rouge in the Louisiana House of Representatives, where he served as Chairman of the House Committee on Labor  & Industrial Relations and Chairman of the House Commerce Committee.  He said, “I am a free market conservative who believes that competition leads to lower rates and better service when the playing field is level.”

• Forest Wright, Democrat, New Orleans, is an energy policy professional who has been developing business strategies and regulatory policies for a sustainable energy future — first for Shell International Exploration and Production Company and more recently with The Alliance for Affordable Energy. Forest is a graduate of Tulane University, where he studied sustainable development.