“Obama’s radical Environmental Protection Agency and its increased regulation are working diligently to kill Alabama coal jobs and other energy related jobs, which, in turn, is hurting all of our businesses in the state,” Beeker said in a statement. “As a member of the Public Service Commission, I will do all that is in my power to protect our state from the overreach of the federal government and the liberal environmentalist who are pushing these job-killing policies.”
Beeker’s focus on protecting Alabama consumers and jobs from Obama’s EPA and leftwing environmentalists will likely be a hallmark of the campaign as Commissioner Dunn, a Republican, and his staff have worked closely with Alabama’s budding environmentalist movement throughout his tenure. In January, the Alabama Democrat Party went so far as to begin trumpeting Dunn’s work. “Finally – someone working with the environmental community to do the right thing,” the Democrats tweeted from their official State Party Twitter account. The blowback from conservatives has been harsh and Dunn has been on the defensive politically for much of the last six months.
Dunn’s emergence as a leading advocate for the enviros has led several Republicans to consider running against him in 2014. The name ID Beeker gained as a PSC candidate in 2010 makes him the most well-known candidate to officially announce to this point.
PSC races usually don’t draw a lot of attention during busy election cycles like the one coming up in 2014, but this race will be one worth watching.
Beeker’s letter to the ALGOP executive committee announcing his candidacy can be found below.
Fellow Republican State Executive Committee Members,
After much thought and prayerful consideration with my family, I wanted you to be the first to know that I will be formally announcing my candidacy for the Public Service Commission, Place 2 tomorrow (Monday). Having been a member of the state executive committee and involved in a variety of campaigns over many years, I feel like now is the time for me to again step forward and do my part to serve my state and party.
I am saddened on a daily basis by the continued erosion of the liberties and values our country holds so dear. President Obama and the Washington liberals are not only attempting to change the face of our nation at the federal level, but are ignoring the 10th Amendment and infringing upon our rights at the state level as well. Obama’s radical Environmental Protection Agency is working diligently to kill Alabama coal jobs and other energy related jobs with increased regulation, which, in turn, is hurting all of our businesses in the state. Enough is enough! I pledge to you that I will do all in my power as a member of the Public Service Commission to protect our state from this overreach of government and the liberal environmentalist who are pushing these policies.
The foundation of our campaign will be built upon three major themes. They are:
1. Protecting consumers and keeping rates low.
2. Creating jobs and improving Alabama’s economy by protecting existing industry as well as attracting new industry to the state.
3. Fighting the overreach of the Obama Administration and the out of control EPA along with liberal environmentalists who are trying to kill Alabama jobs.
I can assure you that these ideals and principles will guide me through every decision I make as your Public Service Commissioner in Place 2 if you choose to send me there as your representative.
I will be reaching out to each of you in the coming months to humbly ask you for your support in this endeavor. It is one I take very seriously. In the meantime, I would like to ask that you keep my wife, Teresa, and me in your prayers as we go forward.
Please do not hesitate to call on me with any questions or when I can be of assistance to you. Thank you for your continued service to our party.
Sincerely,
Chip Beeker
Related:
1. Public Service Commissioner’s Chief of Staff rallies wacko environmentalists
2. Democrats Embrace Republican Public Service Commissioner Terry Dunn
3. Wacko Environmentalists Take On the Alabama Public Service Commission
What else is going on?
1. Sessions fires opening salvo in Senate floor debate on immigration reform
2. Alabama climatologist crushes enviros
3. Approval rating of Alabama GOP majority continues to rise
4. Sources: Fincher is running for Congress
5. Hillyer fires first shots of the AL-01 race, releases TV/web ad
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