Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville) has announced his endorsement of Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC) incumbent Jeremy Oden in his bid for reelection.
Oden faces PSC Place 1 challenger Brent Woodall in the June 21 GOP primary runoff election.
The Republican commissioner garnered 34.3% of the vote in the May 24 primary election. Woodall, who recently came under scrutiny over contributions his campaign received from environmentalists, received 30.92% of all votes cast.
Scofield, who leads the upper chamber’s Republican caucus, has made his mark in the legislature for spearheading policy initiatives that seek to confront issues facing rural Alabama.
In a statement announcing his endorsement of Oden, the senator asserted that the Yellowhammer State could not afford to allow “liberals” to gain control of the PSC given the current inflation crisis and spike in energy costs.
“With Joe Biden’s radical policies already causing costs to skyrocket for hardworking Alabamians, the last thing we can afford right now is liberals taking over the Alabama Public Service Commission,” advised Scofield. “My friend Jeremy Oden is a strong conservative with a proven record of fighting the Green New Deal and standing up for Alabama families, farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses.”
Scofield asserted that Oden was “a champion for rural Alabama” and stated that the commissioner would continue to support measures that benefit ratepayers.
“Jeremy comes from a small business background in Cullman County, and he is a champion for rural Alabama on the PSC,” proclaimed the senator. “He supports expanding access to affordable, high-speed broadband internet service to all Alabamians, regardless of their zip code, and Jeremy supports energy options for Alabamians that are affordable, reliable, and secure. We need to keep the Public Service Commission conservative – that’s why I proudly support Jeremy Oden. Please join me in voting for Jeremy on Tuesday, June 21st.”
Scofield joins the growing list of prominent Republicans that have come out in public support of Oden’s reelection bid.
Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed (R-Jasper) and House Speaker Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia) have each endorsed the incumbent commissioner’s candidacy.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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