Liberal Democrat Campbell Leads in LA PSC Election: Republican Blossman Reelected in Second District

The Shreveport Times | 10-06-02 | Mahfoufi, Michelle

[Theodore R.]

Local PSC race headed for runoff Michelle Mahfoufi / The Times Posted on October 6, 2002

Round two of the Louisiana Public Service Commission race begins today with longtime incumbent Don Owen and challenger Foster Campbell, both Democrats, headed to a Nov. 5 runoff.

Owen, District 5 commissioner for 17 years, garnered 41 percent, or 79,161 votes, while challenger Foster Campbell, a 26-year state senator, received 43 percent, or 82,836 votes, according to complete but unofficial returns.

Outgoing State Senator Campbell picked up a majority of the votes in 18 of the district's 24 North Louisiana parishes.

"There are parishes in North Louisiana that Owen has not been in in the last 12 years," Campbell, 55, said. "People want to know who their Public Service Commissioner is. ... This is a clear mandate from people that they want representation."

But Owen was the preferred candidate in some of Foster's senatorial district, including Claiborne, Webster and Bossier parishes. The other parishes that Owen received the most votes include Caddo, DeSoto, Red River.

"I think that must send some kind of message about the people that know him best," said Owen, 72. Owen is a former Shreveport newsman.

The race has been marked by a series of negative advertisements against both candidates, which Owen said hurt his campaign.

"We were optimistic we would win in the primary. Obviously we did not," Owen said. "Shortly before Mr. Campbell began his negative ad campaign we had a comfortable lead. I think that lead was eroded by those attack ads. ... I'm sorry it came down to that but it did."

Republican William "Rod" Guy, an urban planner from Monroe who ran a grass-roots campaign in his first quest for public office, garnered 10 percent, or 18,511 votes.

"When you have limited resources of $5,000 or less, I think I did real good to get (10) percent," said Guy, who has not yet decided if he will endorse a candidate. "But the most important thing, ... I truly do not believe that any issues would have been brought up during this election if I had not been running."

Jim Crowley, a Shreveport independent running for the Public Service Commission seat for the third time, received 12,805 votes, or 7 percent - compared to the 26 percent he received in the 1996 election.

"Of course you hope for more," Crowley said of the votes he received. "But with the money that was spent by the two leading candidates, it's extremely difficult to compete with that. I feel like all four of the candidates did a fine job."

He is undecided on an endorsement.

The Public Service Commission regulates utility rates and quality of service. The annual salary is $45,000.

The Public Service Commission is made up of five commissioners who serve six years in staggered terms.

Incumbent wins PSC Dist. 1 race

NEW ORLEANS - In a southeast Louisiana Public Service Commission race, incumbent Jay Blossman coasted to an easy victory over the man he ousted six years ago, former PSC member John Schwegmann.

In District 1, with 635 of 695 reporting (91 percent), Blossman had 95,088 votes or 69 percent; Schwegmann had 43,545 or 31 percent.

Republican Blossman unseated Schwegmann, a Democrat, six years ago. Schwegmann, who once oversaw a now-defunct family-owned chain of New Orleans area supermarkets, was on the PSC from 1981-97.

The commission's five members serve six-year terms. They oversee and set rates for services such as telephones, electricity, heating fuel, buses and trucks.

District 1 includes all of Tangipahoa, St. Helena, St. Charles, St. Tammany, St. John the Baptist, Washington, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes, much of Orleans and Jefferson, and parts of Livingston and Ascension.

[Theodore R.]

PSC Blossman in South LA had considered running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Mary Landrieu (who faces voters on Nov. 5) but bowed out to run for reelection instead. His district is more favorably disposed to Republicans than is the NW LA district, always held by Democrats. Two Democrats who once held the NW PSC seat went on to become governor: Huey P. Long and John J. McKeithen.

[William McKinley]

SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC

Is Someone Else Carrying Your Water?
	Donate Here By Secure Server Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD