Tim G. Echols (born November 1, 1960) is an elected official originally from Clayton County, Georgia, who was elected to the Athens-area seat on the Georgia Public Service Commission as a Republican in 2010.[1] Echols unsuccessfully attempted to be appointed to the United States Senate in 2019.[2][3] Echols currently serves as vice-chairman of the commission.[4][5]
Tim Echols | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Georgia Public Service Commission from the 2nd district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2011 | |
| Governor | Nathan Deal Brian Kemp |
| Preceded by | Bobby Baker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 1, 1960 Clayton County, Georgia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Windy Davis |
| Education | University of Georgia (BA, MA, MA) |
Political career
editEchols created the national non-profit, TeenPact, that now operates in 49 states.[6]
Echols served on Governor Sonny Perdue's office of Children and Families for 5 years. He was treasurer and spokesperson for U.S. representative Paul Broun.[7] In 2009, Echols was campaign manager and senior policy advisor for Republican gubernatorial candidate John Oxendine, who lost the Republican primary to Nathan Deal.[8] In 2010, Echols won against Democratic candidate Keith Moffett in a race to become the Athens-area public service commissioner,[9] after first defeating fellow Republicans Jeff May and Joey Brush in the primary,[10] and then John Douglas in the primary run-off.[11]
In December 2016, Echols won re-election to another six-year term as a commissioner. His campaign was focused around a promise to keep electric rates low and support renewable energy development. His second term began on January 1, 2017.[12] In September 2019, Echols filed with Governor Brian Kemp's office for consideration to replace Senator Johnny Isakson.[2] Kemp eventually appointed Kelly Loeffler to the open seat.[3] Echols then proceeded to endorse Loeffler's campaign.[13]
Political positions
editEchols supports fracking, and has also expressed support for a nuclear power plant located in Georgia, albeit with the caveat that the entire project be privatised.[14] Additionally, he has expressed opposition to proposed EPA regulations regarding coal usage.[15][16] Echols is a proponent of electric cars, and has called for expanded tax incentives for their ownership.[17][18]
During the campaign for office, Echols opposed SB31, a 2008 bill by state lawmakers allowing Georgia Power to collect the finance costs for building a new nuclear power plant from its customers before construction is finished. Additionally, Echols has encouraged the recycling of nuclear waste.[19] Echols has encouraged the completion of the Mixed Oxide Fuel facility at the Savannah River Site near Aiken, SC.[20]
Controversies
editIn 2011, Echols, used an official Georgia Public Service Commission letterhead to request admission to the practice round of the Masters Golf Tournament over 11 months after entries to the ticket lottery were due, which caused accusations that he was using his position for personal gain.[21] Echols claimed that this was due to his desire to spot check limousines and ensure that they were registered in Georgia.[21] Echols eventually conceded that his actions were improper and he should not have requested the tickets.[21]
In early 2014, Echols weighed in on the Georgia Right to Life controversy supporting Dan Becker and GRTL's leadership.[22]
In 2018, subsequent to an investigation by the Energy and Policy Institute, a watchdog group filed an ethics complaint against Echols for violating Georgia’s Open Records Act.[23] Echols appeared to have deleted text messages from his personal phone that could have contained conversations between Echols and Georgia Power prior to a vote on Plant Vogtle's continued construction.
Personal life
editEchols is married to Windy Davis Echols. They have 7 children.[24]
References
edit- ^ Henry, Ray (November 2, 2010). "GOP's Echols elected to Ga. utility commission". Washington Examiner.
- ^ a b Bluestein, Greg (September 20, 2019). "Quest for Kemp's support leads to new phase in Georgia Senate race". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ^ a b Booker, Brakkton (December 4, 2019). "Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Picks Kelly Loeffler To Fill Senate Seat". NPR. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- ^ "Commissioner Tim Echols". Georgia Public Service Commission. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- ^ Speir, Joseph (August 22, 2020). "Georgia Clean Energy Roadshow shifts gear to virtual". WGXA. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- ^ Martin, Peter (November 12, 2017). "Meet our Founder". TeenPact.
- ^ Aued, Blake (January 9, 2009). "Broun aide's firm to court GOP". Online Athens. Archived from the original on May 24, 2009.
- ^ Jones, Walter C. (October 26, 2010). "PSC contest pits political aides against one another". Online Athens. Archived from the original on May 8, 2016.
- ^ Henry, Ray (November 3, 2010). "Georgia commissioners: Locals Echols and Hudgens part of Republican clean sweep". Online Athens. Archived from the original on January 11, 2015.
- ^ Hodgin, Wayne (July 24, 2010). "District 2 commission race heads to runoff". Savannah Morning News.
- ^ Aued, Blake (January 4, 2011). "New Leaders: Public Service Commissioner-Elect Tim Echols energetic about the state's future". Online Athens. Archived from the original on May 10, 2011.
- ^ Daily Energy Insider Reports (2016-12-20). "Georgia Public Service Commission's Echols wins second term". Daily Energy Insider. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
- ^ Bluestein, Greg (May 14, 2020). "Georgia Senate: Echols backs Loeffler's campaign". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ Brown, Noel (March 25, 2011). "Echols: Privatize Nuclear Waste Disposal". Georgia Public Broadcasting.
- ^ Echols, Tim. "EPA regs will hurt business and consumers" (PDF). Public Service Commission of Georgia.
- ^ Echols, Tim. "Sweet 16 for natural gas in Georgia". Public Service Commission of Georgia.
- ^ Berman, Bradley (December 18, 2019). "Meet the Georgia Republican politician pushing hard for EVs". Electrek. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
- ^ Galloway, Jim (December 18, 2019). "A Republican pushes to revive Georgia's electric vehicle market". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
- ^ Echols, Tim (January 2, 2015). "A New Year's resolution on recycling". Atlanta Business Chronicle.
- ^ Echols, Tim (October 21, 2014). "Viewpoint: Turning old bombs into carbon-free electricity". Atlanta Business Chronicle.
- ^ a b c Swartz, Kristi E. (August 25, 2011). "State utility commissioner's pursuit of Master's tickets improper, critics say". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ^ Galloway, Jim (March 26, 2014). "A surprise bid to undercut the clout of Georgia Right to Life". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ^ Ondieki, Anastaciah. "Watchdog group questions legality of Ga. PSC commissioner's deleted texts". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ "Georgia Public Service Commission". Georgia Public Service Commission.
