Analysis by Walter C. Jones - Angela Speir leaves a mystery

May 14, 2008

When Angela Speir's term on the Public Service Commission ends in January, her departure will be as mysterious as her election six years ago.

The first woman elected to the commission, Speir shocked political observers with her upset over incumbent Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, a former powerful Democratic legislator and one-time gubernatorial candidate who had been appointed to his seat by then-Gov. Zell Miller. McDonald, who has shed his nickname and switched parties to try to reclaim the seat, attributes her victory to her Republican affiliation in a year when the GOP also picked up the governor's office and a U.S. Senate seat.

After having slain the giant, so to speak, Speir surprised observers again by announcing a week before candidate qualifying that she would end her political career after a single term for an undetermined role in community service.

No one remembers the last time a commissioner did that. Most either leave for higher office, a cushy job based on their connections, or retire mid-term so the governor can appoint their successor.

Speir says she doesn't know what exactly she'll do next, though she says she could have gotten re-elected as long as she had wanted. Perhaps, but she would have had plenty of enemies among the executive suites of the state's regulated utilities.

On the commission, she often voted with fellow Republican Bobby Baker against the utilities' requests. However, she rejects the notion that she and Baker are more concerned about consumers than jobs.

"I received thousands of communications -- e-mails, phone calls and letters -- from business owners throughout the state of Georgia," she said. "These are the rock-strong businesses of our state, from mom-and-pop businesses to very large industrial customers commending the job that I have done on the commission, applauding my efforts for fairness, for open government for fair rates, for not allowing the utilities to gouge them."

Her proudest accomplishment was embarrassing the rest of the commission into passing a rule against private conversations with utility representatives or their opponents. Nearly every other state's regulatory panels have the so-called "ex-parte" prohibition.

For a politician who never took advantage of a state-issued sedan or even a cell phone, it's not surprising she shunned the fawning of lobbyists.

"I've always believed that I am not a politician but a public servant," she said. "I never looked at my office and said �what's in this for me?' but rather how can I help the people of Georgia and make our state a better place? My goal each day has always been to honor the Lord and the people by serving in an honorable way."

Speir has become a hero of sorts to various groups for various reasons.

Her stands at the commission have won her praise from consumer-protection groups.

Her campaign for office inspires other challengers.

Consider that she only spent about $5,000 to McDonald's $189,000. She never talked with reporters during the campaign nor was she spotted at forums, including one with President Bush and the rest of the Georgia GOP slate.

Challengers such as Democrats Dale Cardwell and Josh Lanier, who are seeking the nomination for the U.S. Senate, have formally sworn off large contributions or donations from political-action committees. They've pointed to the upset Sonny Perdue pulled off against Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes, whose financial advantage was 20 times the upstart's, not counting party expenditures. But they should point to Speir, whose opponent had 38 times the funds she did.

She says she ran a grassroots race drawing on her experience running unsuccessfully for the state Senate in 1992 and working on the campaigns of other Georgia Republicans like U.S. Sens. Paul Coverdell and Johnny Isakson and U.S. Rep. Newt Gingrich.

"When you are elected to office, it's not by accident," she said.

Angela Speir is unique in Georgia politics. Who knows when lightning will strike again.

Walter Jones is the bureau chief for the Morris News Service and has been covering state politics since 1998. He can be reached at walter.jones@morris.com or (404) 589-8424.