Crowded Georgia PSC races draw 10 candidates amid rising utility costs

Two seats, 10 candidates. 

The Georgia Public Service Commission has gained popularity over the past year with rising utility costs accompanied by a historic expansion of Georgia Power’s grid capacity.

Two seats of the five member commission are up for election this year. One, District Three, is currently held by Commissioner Peter Hubbard, a Democrat who beat out a Republican incumbent last year. 

The other, District Five, is currently held by Commissioner Tricia Pridemore, who decided not to run for reelection this year. Instead, she is running for Congress in the 11th Congressional District.

Because District Five is open for the taking, many candidates have thrown their hat in the ring.

Three contenders for each of the Republican and Democratic parties have qualified for the race and one Libertarian candidate. The Republicans and Democrats will compete for the party nomination in the primary on May 19.

Here are the candidates.

• Craig Cupid, Democrat
• Shelia Edwards, Democrat
• Angelia Pressley, Democrat
• Bobby Mehan, Republican
• Carolyn Roddy, Republican
• Joshua Tolbert, Republican
• Thomas Blooming, Libertarian

Two Republicans are competing for the party nomination in the District Three race: former Commissioner Fitz Johnson and Brandon Martin. Hubbard is the only candidate on the Democratic ticket.

Early voting ends Friday, and the last day to vote in the primary election is May 19.