Jump to content

Chuck Eaton

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Stiflegold67 (talk | contribs) at 19:35, 16 January 2021 (→2012 campaign). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.


Chuck Eaton
File:Eaton Pence Rally.jpg
Eaton speaking
Member of the Georgia Public Service Commission
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2007
GovernorSonny Perdue
Nathan Deal
Brian Kemp
Preceded byDavid Burgess
Personal details
BornApril 1, 1969
Political partyRepublican
SpouseErika Eaton
EducationUniversity of Alabama(BA)
Georgia State University College of Law(JD)

Chuck Eaton is a statewide elected official serving on the Georgia Public Service Commission. He is currently serving in his fourth term as the Chairman of the Commission.[1] In 2008, Eaton was chosen by Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the "100 Most Influential Atlantans."[2] Georgia Trend Magazine selected him as one of the "100 Most Influential Georgians" in 2016[3] and 2021.[4]

Elections

2018 campaign

In 2018, Eaton was re-elected to a third term on the Georgia Public Service Commission. As stated in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he won in a runoff election, with "52 percent of the vote to [Lindy] Miller's roughly 48 percent of the roughly 1.4 million votes cast".[5] The statewide race became high-profile in the runoff, with an outside, pro-nuclear group, spending $1 million on behalf of Eaton.[6] In 2017, Commissioner Eaton was part of an unanimous vote to continue the controversial, Plant Vogtle nuclear construction.[7] The project was a central focus of the 2018 television debates.[8] In an Atlanta Magazine interview, he restated his support of Vogtle because, "Vogtle is part of our state's long-range fuel mix strategy and as a 60-year asset will provide reliable, affordable, zero-carbon energy for Georgia consumers into the foreseeable future. Diversity in generation is essential in ensuring our electric rates continue to remain competitive."[9] In the Wall Street Journal he stated, “I still believe that nuclear still needs to be part of a diversified mix."[10]

Eaton's campaign was in the unique position of having the backing of business organizations and the major labor unions for the election. From the Augusta Chronicle: "Where it's the Democratic mission to elect Democrats, it's the unions' vision to elect candidates that support their workers, that support jobs", said Moses Todd, a former Augusta Commission member who is president of the 12-county East Central Georgia Labor Council of the AFL-CIO.[11]

2012 campaign

According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, on the Georgia statewide ballot, "Republican Chuck Eaton captured 52.2 percent of the vote in a three-way race to win a second term on the Georgia Public Service Commission."[12] During this election, Eaton promoted the need for Plant Vogtle and energy diversity. The Red & Black mentioned "Public Service Commissioner Chuck Eaton said he sees the state with an accounting mindset, looking through a 'rational and reasonable' lens for an 'energy portfolio' that is diverse and impressive."[13]

2006 Campaign

Chuck Eaton was first elected to the PSC on December 5th, 2006. He was elected in a statewide runoff, defeating incumbent David Burgess, with 52% of the vote.[14]

Georgia Public Service Commission

Significant votes

He voted against a motion to add $5 a month to Lifeline wireless users in Georgia, concerned as to whether the new charge would actually curb abuse. This was covered in Forbes in 2013: "Obviously there’s nobody in this room that’s for fraud, we’re all against fraud," Eaton said. "Personally I have yet to be convinced that the $5 charge would do anything to reduce the fraud."[15]

In 2020, during the Covid 19 pandemic, Eaton supported a moratorium on utility shutoffs. “There’s nothing more important right now than making sure everybody has electricity in their home,” commission Chairman Chuck Eaton said before last Tuesday’s vote. “We need to be encouraging people to use their homes.”[16][17]

References

  1. ^ "Morning Brief: New Georgia PSC chair, Capital Dynamics gets in on Eland". pv magazine USA. 2020-01-22. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  2. ^ "100 Most Influential Atlantans". www.bizjournals.com. June 23, 2008. Retrieved 2020-04-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "100 Most Influential Georgians". Georgia Trend Magazine. 2015-12-31. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  4. ^ "100 Most Influential Georgians". Georgia Trend Magazine. 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  5. ^ Anastaciah Ondieki, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Miller concedes, Eaton returns to public service commission". ajc. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  6. ^ Landers, Mary. "Pro-nuclear group increases donation to $1 million in Ga. PSC runoff". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  7. ^ Plumer, Brad (2017-12-21). "Georgia, Facing 'Difficult Dilemma,' Keeps Nuclear Project Alive". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  8. ^ Lee, Maggie (October 2, 2018). "How much you'll pay for a new nuclear plant may depend on who you elect to this office". ledger-enquirer.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "6 Questions for Georgia's Public Service Commissioner Candidates: District 3: Chuck Eaton (R)". Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  10. ^ Gold, Russell (2017-12-21). "Georgia Officials Approve Funding for Troubled Nuclear Plant". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  11. ^ McCord, Susan. "Eaton secures backing of both business and labor for Public Service Commission seat". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  12. ^ Williams, Dave (November 7, 2012). "Romney, Republicans romp in Georgia". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2020-04-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Watson, Nick. "Public Service Commissioner Eaton has 'heart of a bulldog'". The Red and Black. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  14. ^ "Republicans win another Georgia race, make PSC unanimous". The Daily Citizen. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  15. ^ Erb, Kelly Phillips. "State Takes Measures To Combat 'Obama Phone' Abuse As FCC Ramps Up Fines". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  16. ^ Service, Dave Williams Capitol Beat News. "PSC: Power won't be disconnected for unpaid bills during pandemic". Cherokee Tribune Ledger News. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  17. ^ Service, Dave Williams Bureau Chief Capitol Beat News. "State energy regulators extend moratorium on Georgia Power service disconnections". MDJOnline.com. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Chuck_Eaton&oldid=1000797549"