Newspaper Page Text
PSC race promises
interesting results
By KELLIE ROWDEN
Staff Writer
One of the state-wide elections
that many Georgians are looking
forward to is the race for Public
Service Commissioner. For the
past few elections this race has been
notorious for mud-slinging and this
year should be no different.
The two democratic candidates
for the post are incumbent Cas
Robinson and challenger John
Frank Collins. The Republican
candidate is Robert B. Baker Jr.
The Public Service Commission
regulates the stale’s utilities,
including electric power, natural gas
and telephone service.
Cas Robinson has had a career in
public service for 16 years, 11 in
the Georgia House of
Representatives and five on the
Georgia Public Service
Commission. Two years ago
Robinson was elected as commis
sioner by a 52 percent vote.
Fair play is a big theme in
Robinson’s quest to be re-elected.
He feels that it has been a part of
his past career.
“It is important to be objective,
to examine all the facts, to hear
from all interested parties and to
keep an arm’s length relationship
with any organization, firm or
company regulated by or with spe
cial interest before the Georgia pub
lic Service Commission,”
Robinson said in a 1988 speech.
Some of the accomplishments
Robinson has experienced during
his past two years are bringing
county-wide free calling throughout
Georgia and helping pass
legislation to require electric
companies to get PSC approval
before building any new facilities.
Before his career in public ser
vices, Robinson was a Presbyterian
minister. He currently lives in
Stone Mountain with his wife of
35 years. During their marriage
there have been four children
During the past few years,
Robinson has made several trips to
various places around the country,
including many trips to
Washington D.C. for speaking en
gagements concerning his office. It
is these trips that have the oppos
ing candidate John Frank Collins
feeding coal to his campaign fire to
take over the PSC position.
According to Collins, many of
the trips that have been reimbursed
by the PSC were not legitimate
business trips but personal pleasure
trips. Collins has gone as far as
investigating Robinson’s travel
record for the years of 1990, 1991
and 1992 through May. From the
provided information, Collins feels
that no specific dates were shown
and, in some instances, no reason
was given for the trips. Some of
the destinations in question were
San Juan, Puerto Rico, Washington
D.C. and San Francisco.
“The voucher listed only the air
fare costs and no other expenses or
reasons,” Collins was quoted as
saying. Collins feels that the tax
payers and utilities paid for these
trips unnecessarily.
During Robinson’s term, he has
spent $34,000, including travel.
Collins’ educational background
includes a Bachelor of Science in
industrial management and
engineering. He also has two law
degrees from the Atlanta Law
School.
“I have the educational back
ground to handle this position. I
am an honest man and Robinson is
a puppet of the utilities. I want to
see people of Georgia in a level
field with utilities. It’s never been
like that before,” Collins said.
Collins bases his campaign on
necessity. He feels that as Public
"Sxceltatce C*t Sdu&ztOtot'
TONY
HINNANT
SUPERINTENDENT
HOUSTON COUNTY SCHOOLS
• Will actively seek total parent
interaction and participation
• Will exercise fiscal responsibility in
addressing facility needs
• Will be pro-active rather than
reactive
VOTE JULY 21, 1992
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John Frank Collins
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Cas Robinson
Service Commissioner he will ex
amine all utility rales to make cer
tain they are justifiable. He also
plans to make his decisions avail
able to the public and media with
explanations for each decision.
“I’ve observed Robinson and he
never saw a rate increase he didn’t
like,” Collins said assuredly.
Although thorough dissatisfac
tion with the incumbent isn’t the
primary driving force behind Robert
“Bobby” Baker Jr., there are still
some aspects within the position
that he feels could be changed for
the better.
According to Baker, he wants to
bring reasonable regulation to the
PSC. He feels that public hear
ings concerning utility issues are
important and should be attended by
the Public Service Commissioner
himself.
“Robinson stated that he wanted
to have more public hearings, but
within the last year he has missed
19 out of 20 hearings because he
has been out of town,” Baker com
mented.
Baker was educated in DeKalb
County public schools. He has a
Bachelor of Arts degree in history
and political science from
Oglethorpe University and a law
degree from the University of
Georgia.
After law school Baker joined
the Southeastern Legal Foundation
and in 1991 entered into a private
practice. Also in 1991 Baker was
appointed to the Gwinnett County
Planning Commission.
Due to his experience on that
commission, Baker feels the PSC
needs to re-focus its priorities and
become more efficient.
“We must put an end to the
backroom bickering which has
made the PSC a regulatory laugh
ingstock, and bring its dealings into
the open and put an end to closed
door rate-making and internal feud
ing,” Baker said.
Cali
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v
Larry Walker
Walker to
run alone in
district 141
By EMERY WARNOCK
Staff Writer
State Rep. Larry Walker of Perry
is unopposed for the Georgia Gen
eral Assembly District 141 race.
After this race it will be Walker’s
eleventh term in office. He is the
House Majority Leader.
“After 20 years I hope my record
shows that I have worked to im
prove the way of life and that I will
continue to do so,” Walker said.
“We have many road needs in this
area. Hopefully, we will sec the
new Middle Georgia Technology
School come to the area. 1 will con
tinue to be accessible to you,” he
said.
“We have a lot of needs. We have
a good economy that is a lot better
than other places but we have got
to be prepared to react,” he said, “to
continue to improve the infrastruc
ture.”
“I have access to the right people
in the state government. We do not
always get the results we want but I
will work for continued growth
with the contacts I have in the
state,” Walker said.
He and has wife, Janice, have four
children, two grandchildren and one
expected.
Walker enjoys playing racquet
ball, bird hunting and fishing dur
ing his leisure time.
VOTE FOR JOHN FRANK COLLINS
FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
\ ' I j LET INCUMBENT CAS ROBINSON’S
j RECORD SPEAK FOR ITSELF: "[H)e never
\ ttf I saw a utilities'lobbyist he didn't Me. While the
\ y mmrn I General Assembly is in session, [Cas] Robinson
\ /\\j seems to spend as much time in the house
\tC\ 1 V J // Industry Committee rooms as he does in his office
\ \v3 HI al PSC The ,rKltJS,r y Committee is the
\\ **/ *>&* incubator for most legislation backed by the
P utilities. [Cas] Robinson took a PSC staff member
V\\ L/. to the Georgia Power Co offices recently to work
\ U on a bill for the company." -M Shipp
Incumbent Cas Robinson - the PUPPET of the Utilitiesl
VOTE FOR JOHN FRANK COLLINS
State-wide Democratic Primary, July 21.
Paid (or by JOHN FRANK COLLINS lor PSC Committee • P.O. BOX 444, PINELAKE, GA 30072
n n
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Jay Walker
Post 4 race ready for Tuesday
By EMERY WARNOCK
Staff Writer
Candidates running for the Hous
ton County Commission post 4
race arc nearing the campaign trail
end which will be the July 21 pri
mary election.
Democrats seeking the county po
sition are Arthur Head of Warner
Robins and Jay Walker of Center
ville. Tracy McCollister of Warner
Robins is the Republican candidate
in the post 4 race.
Incumbent Houston Porter is not
seeking re-election due to profes
sional reasons he said obligates him
to step aside from public office at
the present time.
Head, a Houston County native,
said he plans to keep the public in
formed once he’s in office and will
work toward long-range goals.
“I would like to take everything in
a professional approach in county
government. 1 plan to work with all
the commissioners and local gov
ernments for a better place for all of
us to live,” Head said.
“I would like to improve long
range planning in the growth of the
county and in coordinating with our
cities as we are nearing the year
2000,” he said.
Head is president of his neighbor
hood watch program, a member of
the PTO at Parkwood Elemtary, a
member of the nominating commit
tee of Flint Electric and chairman of
the board of his church.
“I felt that the ordinary citizens
have been great to me and also, by
participating in my church and the
PTO, I think that was really the
reason why I chose to seek public
office,” Head said.
THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL, SATURDAY, JULY 18, 1992-7
Tracy McCollister Arthur Head
Head is a graduate of Macon Area
Vocational and Technology. He is
professionally involved in general
contracting, specializing in home
repair. He and his wife, Peggy,
have one son, Shawn, age eight.
Walker, a life-long resident of
Houston County, said he plans to
work on completing transportation
projects joining the north and south
ends of the county.
“I am proud of Houston County
■ Citizens of Houston County have many things work
ing for them.
■ For one, they have a tax cap law designed to put a
ceiling on the amount of taxes they pay.
■ For another, they have Charlie Stewart making
sure it is enforced to the very letter of the law.
■ I have worked within the tax cap for the five years
I have served as your county commissioner and I
find that the tax cap works for the good of each of
us. It benefits us in two very important ways
■ On the one hand, it prevents wholesale increases
in taxes, the thing it was intended to do.
■ And as a "bonus," it places upon your county com
missioners the responsibility of giving very careful
attention to how the limited funds will be spent. We
have to study things; we have to know things.
■ It is true that knowledge makes for an enlightened
electorate. It can do the same thing for county
commissioners. Enlightened county commission
ers make the decisions that benefit the people.
■ I have been making these decisions for
the last four years. I hope you will let me
continue making them for the next four.
VOTE
CHARLIE
STEWART
County Commissioner
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JAY WALKER
County Commissioner Post 4 - County Wide Election
BORN: May 6, 1947, lifelong resident of Houston County.
EDUCATION: Graduate Northside High School, Attended Georgia
College, University of Georgia, Atlanta Law School. Holds B.S.
and M.Ed. degrees in Political Science & Education: Juris Doctor
degree in Law.
CIVIC: Member Georgia Association of Educators, Professional
Assn, of Georgia Educators, Georgia Vocational Association, The
Family Alliance for Mentally 111, The American Legion and the 40
& 8 Honor Society, VFW, Warner Robins Jaycees, Order of
the Moose, Masonic Lodge, lyrian 111, Scottish Rite, American
Heart Association, Georgia Business Council, Air Force Associa
tion, Warner Robins/North Houston County Chamber of Com
merce, American, Georgia and Houston Co. Bar Association,
Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Co. United Way Board of Direc
tors: Georgia College, Alumni Board of Directors.
GOVERNMENT: Member, Houston Co. Board of Commissioners.
1982 - 1990, Chairman 1985, 1990; (First Certified County
Commissioner in Georgia) National Association of Counties,
Criminal Justice Steering Committee: Middle Georgia Planning
and Development Commission: Chairman and "Sam Nunn Award"
Recipient, 1987; Perry - Ft. Valley Airport Authority, Houston Co.
Board of Health: Houston Co. Bicentennial Commission: Houston
Co. Industrial Authority: Regional Development Commission:
Houston Drug Task Force: State Representative 1991 - 1993
District 113 - Houston County; Serves on the Banks & Banking,
Education & Special Judiciary Committees: The Georgia Arts
Council.
PROFESSION: Teacher, Houston County School System, 1972 -
1990, Attorney, General Practice of Law, 1980 - Present; small
businessman.
PERSONAL: Married. Jay & his wife, Mary, have one child,
Charles Jay "C.J." age IT, Member of First Baptist Church of
Warner Robins: U.S. Army Veteran.
PLATFORM
I Wi11...
• Work for and fairly represent all the people of Houston County.
• Be availible and responsive at all times.
• Support law enforcement and strong laws against crime.
• Work for programs that support business development &
growth.
• Support programs for the protection of the environment.
• Work for improved transportation system of Houston County.
• Work towards building strong working relations with other
Middle Georgia Governments.
• Support consolidation of government services.
• Work with the tax cap.
"You can count on JAY"
Paid for by the candidate
"You can count on JAY"
Paid for by the candidate
and I want to work on completing
the North Perry By pass, die widen
ing of Houston Lake Road and
Highway 96 and the Russell Park
way extension. Plus, 1 want to
build a strong working relationship
with each chamber of commerce,”
Walker said. “I’ve got the experi
ence to do this. I've made a lot of
contacts on a first name basis with
state heads.
Please see POST 4, page 10A
7A