Public Services Commissioner

State Executive Offices

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Elections by Year

2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010

The Public Services Commissioner is a state level position in all 50 states. The duties of the position vary from state to state, but their general role involves the regulation of essential utility services such as energy, telecommunications, and water.

Quick facts about Public Service Commissioners
A multi-person board, ranging from 2 to 7 members A total of 186 commissioners across all 50 states Publicly elected in 11 states Average salary: $115,563 (in 2010)

Elected vs. appointed

As it currently stands, there are three ways in which an individual is able to be selected for the office of public services commissioner: statewide elections, gubernatorial appointment, or appointment by the state legislature.

While the vast majority of the states that do have the statewide governmental position authorize the governor to appoint an individual to the office, there are at least eleven others who have opted to publicly elect their commissioners. These states include Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. The one remaining state, Virginia, empowers its state legislature to choose the office holder for the statewide position.

The current party breakdown of State Public Services Commissioner Chairs who are elected shows that:

• 11 are Republicans and 0 are Democrats.

• The 11 states in which Republicans serves as the chair of the commission include Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.

Election history

2012

Ten states held scheduled public services commissioner elections in the 2012 electoral cycle: Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Heading into the November election, Democrats held six of the seats, Republicans held 12 seats and one seat was held by an Independent. Out of 19 incumbents, 14 sought re-election in 2012. The status breakdown of the remaining 5 was as follows:

• Three retired from office - Louisiana Public Service Commissioner James Field (R), New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner Douglas J. Howe (I) and North Dakota Public Services Commissioner Tony Clark (R).

• Two did not run due to term limits - Montana Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar (R) and New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner Jason Marks (D).

Following the election, nine incumbents, all Republicans, won re-election. The remaining five incumbents, all Democratic candidates, were defeated by Republican challengers. The non-incumbent races in Louisiana, Montana, and North Dakota were won by Republican candidates, while the two non-incumbent races in New Mexico were won by Democratic candidates.

See also

• State executive offices
• State executive official elections, 2012
• State executive official elections, 2014

External links

• National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners website