(The Center Square) — Three candidates aim to win the District 2 commissioner’s position on Louisiana’s Public Service Commission in the Nov. 5 election.
The Public Service Commission regulates public utilities and public-service corporations, which provide services like electricity, water, and transportation.
The district that two Republicans and one Democrat wish to represent stretches directly south from West Feliciana Parish to the bottom of the boot in Terrebonne.
Outgoing Commissioner Dr. Craig Greene was elected in 2017 to fill the remainder of the unexpired term held by former commissioner Scott Angelle, who resigned to accept a position in the federal government.
Greene, an orthopedic surgeon in Baton Rouge, served another term starting in 2018, but decided not to run for another term in June. He cited the example of his father, former state Sen. Thomas Greene, who served two terms in the state Senate.
“I look forward to spending more time doing what I love most, enjoying my family, and caring for my patients,” Greene said in a statement. “Louisiana is full of great, loving people, and I am confident they will find a great Commissioner to serve as the next in line to take a turn.”
Nick Laborde is the lone Democrat in this race, and his career experience includes working as a business consultant. His main goal is to hold utility companies like Entergy accountable, according to his campaign website.
Laborde also wants to bolster the grid while making utilities pay more instead of raising consumer bills. This includes diversifying power generation to make the Pelican State the “renewables leader of the South.”
Current Sen. Jean-Paul Coussan, R-Lafayette, is the favorite based on campaign finances and was elected to represent District 45 back in 2019. He’s the chairman for the Natural Resources and Environment Committee and a member of the Joint Capital Outlay Committee.
Julie Quinn is the other Republican candidate and has also served in the state Senate. She represented District 6 from 2005 to 2012 and currently works as an attorney advising businesses on employment matters, contracts, and litigation.
On her website the first three goals for Quinn are to protect consumer rates and pass-through spending, work towards Louisiana’s energy independence, and hold utility companies accountable for creating and maintaining a resilient grid.
Coussan received a little over $523,000 in campaign contributions as of 30 days before the election, and spent $267,000 of that money according to the Elections Commission. In contrast, Quinn received $126,000 and spent $145, and Laborde reported no campaign receipts.
