Baker bows out of race for PSC

Athens' representative on the state board that regulates the electric, natural gas and telephone industries will not seek re-election.

Bobby Baker, the first Republican elected statewide since Reconstruction when he won his seat on the state Public Service Commission in 1992, is stepping down, he said Tuesday.

Tim Echols of Winterville, a senior adviser to Republican gubernatorial candidate John Oxendine, and state Sen. John Douglas, R-Social Circle, are among the candidates vying for the post.

Douglas qualified to run Tuesday. Echols said he intends to qualify today, as long as his wife agrees.

"I will use the experience I have gained at both the local and state level of government to ensure the people of Georgia are treated fairly by those companies for which the PSC has oversight," Douglas said in a news release.

Echols would seek to balance consumer protection with corporate profits and create a friendly climate for business, he said.

"As a conservative, I'm for less government regulation," he said. "Not no government regulation, but less government regulation."

Other media outlets reported that Doc Eldridge, the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce president and former mayor, might seek the post, but Eldridge told the Banner-Herald he is not interested.

"It's always nice to be remembered, but no," Eldridge said. "I'm happy where I'm at."

The five PSC members are elected statewide, but each one represents a geographic district. Baker's district includes Macon, Augusta and Athens.

Baker lists his address as an Athens condominium. A challenger

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