Doug Everett Resigns PSC Seat; Rep Jason Shaw Appointed To Complete Term
Public Service Commissioner Doug Everett is resigning his District 1 seat effective at the end of the year. Governor Nathan Deal has named Representative Jason Shaw, Chairman of the House Appropriations Transportation Committee. Shaw’s House seat will require a special election. The PSC seat will be on the statewide ballot in 2020, when Shaw will presumably stand for election to a full six year term.
The press release from the Governor’s office is below.
Gov. Nathan Deal today announced that he will appoint Rep. Jason Shaw to the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) to fill the vacancy created by the departure of Commissioner Doug Everett on Dec. 31, 2018. Shaw will serve the remainder of Everett’s term and will represent the 1st District of the PSC. The appointment will be effective Jan. 1, 2019.
“I would like to thank Doug Everett for his more than 15 years of dedicated service as a commissioner and I wish him all the best in retirement,” said Deal. “Rep. Shaw has significant experience both as a businessman and in public service, and I am confident that he will be an effective representative for the people of Georgia as a member of the Public Service Commission.”
Shaw has represented the 176th District in the Georgia House of Representatives since 2011. He is the owner of Shaw Insurance Services Inc. and a partner of Georgia Olive Farms Inc. In the Georgia House of Representatives, Shaw most recently served as chairman of the House Appropriations Transportation Committee and was a member of the House Economic Development & Tourism Committee, the House Game, Fish, and Parks Committee, the House Industry and Labor Committee, the House Insurance Committee, the House Small Business Committee and the House Transportation Committee. He also served as chairman of the Georgia Legislative Rural Caucus for four years. Shaw is a graduate of Leadership Georgia, Leadership Lanier and the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development. He is a former president of the Lakeland/Lanier County Chamber of Commerce and the Lanier County Lions Club. Shaw is also a former director of the Greater Valdosta United Way and a member of the Professional Insurance Agents of Georgia, the South Regional Joint Development Authority and the American Olive Oil Producers Association. He serves as the finance chairman for Unity Methodist Church in Lakeland and was named to Georgia Trend’s “40 under 40” list in 2011. Shaw earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Katy, have two children and reside on a farm near Lakeland.
About Author
Charlie
Founder of GeorgiaPol.com; Now weekly columnist Very interested in Georgia and Georginas. Interest in politics is waning daily.
Add a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Another new rule for those that haven’t noticed. The PSC be handled like the courts, officeholder resign so the Governor can appoint a crony. The people can’t be trusted. It’s what Republicans call paying it forward.
Well, just think, Sanblastin’ Stacey could have made appointments like that…had she won! Go sit on your donut!
Except that Everett very likely wouldn’t have resigned. I don’t refer to Georgia as the Republican’s state for nothing.
To be clear, I disapprove of resigning in the manner of Wise or Everett. Everett is old enough to be cut slack. I consider candidate’s age in choosing who I support.
Wise’s resignation was that of a disreputable partisan Republican hack., but I repeat myself.
I think that here, age has the opposite effect of giving slack.
He darn straight knew what he was doing politically, and had enough ability to see at least 6 months into the future of his desire to serve, such that he could have allowed this seat to be put on the ballot this year. But why risk letting Georgians choose freely? Especially with the Vogtle plant issue still fresh in the mind. The less the clear and present controversy, the more that Incumbency helps.
BtB, I didn’t mean to convey that I cut Everett slack on his not knowing exactly what he was doing politically, but rather he’s of such age that he may not continue to continue to serve for true health reasons.
I don’t think a Gov.-elect can make appointments. Deal is still Gov. So it makes more sense for Deal to make a partisan political appt. now, especially if Abrams won.
I hate it when people don’t serve out their terms. I don’t know the reason. It seems to always cost us money.
It’s so the governor can appoint their heir. Also in the case of the PSC as long as people keep rubber stamping the designated incumbent they will keep rubber stamping the wishes of Georgia Power.
I know. It pisses me off. And I don’t care what party is in charge. Maybe the legislative fix would be to forbade appointees from being able to run when the election comes up after the appointment.
It’s the timing that is a slap in the face.
On the other hand, what do most people know about PSC candidates? Some jobs it may be better to have appointees. But maybe appointed by a different process than by the Gov. would be better.
The guy is old. I did a cursory on-line search for his age, but found nothing definitive. I’m guessing he’s into his 70’s.
It would have been an even bigger slap had Everett waited six more weeks to resign. Everett’s replacement in that circumstance would be appointed by a complete incompetent.