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FOSTER CAMPBELL TO RUN FOR
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION - Feb 25 2002
NORTH LOUISIANA -- Louisiana State Senator Foster Campbell
today announced his candidacy for the North Louisiana seat
on the state Public Service Commission.
Touring PSC District 5 by car over two days, Campbell said
he would strengthen the commission with his business
background and legislative experience on consumer issues.
"The Public Service Commission is the most important
regulatory body in Louisiana," Campbell said. "It oversees
rates for electricity, water, transportation and other
utilities. It has a powerful impact on the pocketbooks of
the people and the ability to advance and promote a better
economy. It can help people build their businesses,
succeed, and promote employment.
"My background as a businessman and my legislative record
as a consumer advocate qualify me for the PSC."
Campbell noted that Public Service Commission enjoys a
proud history of strong leadership. Jimmie Davis, Huey
Long and John McKeithen have held the North Louisiana PSC
seat. "These men acted with purpose and left a legacy of
service to the people," he said.
"Today, many people don't know who their public service
commissioner is, much less that the PSC plays a vital role
in their lives and livelihoods.
"I will restore to the office the tradition of strong
leadership to protect the public interest. I will be an
active, not reactive, public service commissioner. The
people of North Louisiana will know who their commissioner
is and where I stand on the issues."
Campbell said that, if elected, he would hold regular
public meetings in every one of the 24 parishes in
District 5. "If utility issues arise that affect certain
areas of the state, I will ask the commission to travel to
those areas to hear from the people who are affected," he
said.
Campbell owns two insurance agencies in Bossier City:
Campbell Insurance and Premier Insurance. He also operates
a cattle farm at Elm Grove, his home in south Bossier
Parish, and is the father of six children ranging in age
from 11 to 26.
Raised in Bossier City, Campbell is a graduate of
Northwestern State University with a degree in business
administration. He began his professional career as a
schoolteacher in Bossier Parish public schools.
First elected to the Senate in 1975, Campbell has been
re-elected to the District 36 seat six times by the people
of Bossier, Bienville, Claiborne and Webster parishes.
Among his political accomplishments are a three-year fight
to return the state's rural electric co-operatives to PSC
rate regulation, lowering utility rates for one million
Louisiana residents; and the 2001 passage of the new "Do
Not Call" program to restrict unwanted sales calls at
home.
Campbell is the author of the legislation placing $1
billion of the state's Tobacco Settlement in trust for
local schools. He modeled the Educational Excellence Fund
after the Bossier Educational Excellence Fund, which
Campbell created from Louisiana Downs racetrack revenues
in the mid-1980s. BEEF now has a balance of $8 million.
"Throughout my political life I have not let special
interests in Baton Rouge stop me from saying what I
believe is right," Campbell said. "As Public Service
Commissioner I will continue to be an independent voice."
The election for the District 5 seat on the PSC is
scheduled October 5.
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