Alabama Public Service Commission President

Laura Casey

Democrat

Age: 48

Residence: Hoover

Political experience: Defeated Robert Mardis III in the Democratic primary on March 3. Was Democratic nominee for Alabama State Senate District 15 race in 2018 but withdrew before the general election.

Professional experience: Clerk for state Supreme Court of New Jersey, 2001-2002; actuary, Prudential Insurance, Newark, New Jersey, and Hewitt Associates, Bedminster, New Jersey, 1993-1998.

Civic experience: CASA Guardian ad Litem Program, Monmouth County, New Jersey, 2015-2016.

Education: Juris doctor, Rutgers University-Newark Law School, 2001; Bachelor of Science in actuarial mathematics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1993.

Main issues: Casey has been an advocate of transparency in the PSC’s meetings. Casey was kicked out of a PSC hearing last November because she was live streaming the event from her phone. She filed suit against the commission, charging that their prohibition of live streaming violated Alabama open meetings laws. The Alabama Supreme Court decided against Casey in a decision handed down Sept. 4. In comments for an al.com story, Casey said, “It’s not surprising but it should sadden everybody in Alabama to have a court that says a public utility rate hearing is not a public meeting that the public should have access to. … It’s just contrary to all notions of government. And it does lead to the question, what are they hiding, and why?”

Casey is a proponent of renewable energy such as solar power; the PSC hearing from which she was ejected was about Alabama Power’s intent to charge fees to customers who use solar as their main power source, which it did in a later hearing. Casey is also a proponent of cheaper, cleaner energy. “We are paying Alabama Power the highest profit rate of any regulated investor-owned electric utility in America,” she said.

Contributors: Three contributions from individuals totaling $525.

Campaign website: https://caseyforal.com