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Michael Picker

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Michael Picker
Image of Michael Picker

Nonpartisan

Prior offices
Sacramento Municipal Utility District Board

California Public Utilities Commission

Education

Graduate

University of California, Davis

Michael Picker is the former president of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the nonpartisan body charged with regulating the state's utility companies. He served in this position from December 23, 2014, to 2019.[1] Picker was first appointed to the CPUC by Gov. Jerry Brown in January 2014 following the resignation of former Commissioner Mark J. Ferron.[2] Picker served the remainder of Ferron's unexpired term, which was scheduled to run through the end of 2014. In December 2014, Gov. Brown appointed Picker to a full, six-year term on the commission, and designated him CPUC President.[3] In May 2019, Picker announced he would step down from the position by the end of the year.[4]

Though his position on the commission is nonpartisan, Picker is affiliated with the Democratic Party.[1]

At the time of his appointment to the CPUC, Picker was serving on the Sacramento Municipal Utility District Board. First elected to the position in 2012, he had to step down from the board in order to begin his appointment to the statewide regulatory commission in January 2014.[1]

Biography

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Picker's background with the California state government includes serving as deputy assistant for toxic substance control to Gov. Brown from 1981 to 1982, deputy to the California State Treasurer from 1998 to 1999, as well as senior adviser for renewable energy to the California governor's office.

Before his election to the SMUD in 2012, Picker had seven years of experience working in Sacramento government, having been chief of staff to Sacramento Mayor Joe Serna Jr. from 1992 to 1999.[1]

Picker is an M.B.A. graduate of the University of California at Davis, where he focused on marketing and management of nonprofit organizations.[3]

Education

  • M.B.A. - University of California at Davis

Political career

California Public Utilities Commission (2014-2019)

Picker served as president of the CPUC from December 2014 to 2019. He was first appointed as a member of the CPUC in January 2014.[3] He was named to the leadership post by Gov. Jerry Brown. Brown first appointed Picker to complete the term of resigned Commissioner Mark J. Ferron, which ran through December 2014.[1][2]

About the office

The California Public Utilities Commission is a quasi-executive agency in the California state government. The commission regulates the state's privately owned electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, railroad, rail transit, and passenger transportation companies.[5]

Appointments

2014

Picker was appointed to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) by Gov. Jerry Brown (D) effective January 29, 2014. His appointment was confirmed by the California Senate on Aug. 21, 2014. Picker replaced Mark J. Ferron, who resigned his seat on the commission before the end of his term, citing personal health reasons. Brown named Picker president of the commission on December 23, 2014.[3]

See also

California State Executive Elections News and Analysis
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External links

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by
Mark J. Ferron
California Public Utilities Commission
2014–2019
Succeeded by
Marybel Batjer