Bubba McDonald, Pam Davidson spar in PSC debate
July 2, 2008 at 2:30 pm by Thomas Wheatley in NewsTwo candidates vying for the Public Service Commission’s District 4 seat that represents north Georgia sniped at each other today at the joint Atlanta Press Club/Georgia Public Broadcasting debates and delivered what basically could be amounted to as “Pam loves renewables” and “Bubba loves nukes.” A clear-cut battle between Mother Nature and Radioactive Man.
Bubba McDonald — who’s now going by his given name of Lauren, but he’ll always be Bubba to us — served both on the commission and in the General Assembly and wants to hop back on the agency that regulates the state’s energy sector. His opponent, Pam Davidson, has never held an elected office in her life, but is a former lobbyist and energy consultant who says she makes up for her inexperience with education about the issues.
McDonald has a reputation as colorful as his nickname. During his previous term on the PSC, McDonald raised eyebrows in regards to the relationships with some of the parties the commission regulates. Davidson took the opportunity today proposed a “moral challenge” not to accept contributions from persons related to the PSC’s proceedings. She’s refused even a cup of coffee from lobbyists and lawyers. Needless to say, McDonald didn’t take her up on the challenge and said he’s received donations from a variety of people, but that it wouldn’t taint his morals. He also said he has a letter from Davidson addressed to a marketer soliciting a large donation.
One thing the two share in common is a party switch. McDonald was a Democrat lawmaker, but says he hasn’t voted for a donkey president since Jimmy Carter. “The Democratic party left me,” he said during the debate. “I didn’t leave the Democratic party.” Davidson ran as a Democrat for a state representative seat in 2000 but is now gunning as a Republican.
Davidson’s real big on renewable energy — specifically juice generated from the wind, sun and biomass, which is cleaner and considered the state’s next natural gold mine. McDonald says renewable energy is good but shouldn’t be mandated. He says he prefers “reliability” over renewables, hence his penchant for nuclear. He didn’t address how Georgia’s recurring water shortages would impact these expensive beasts’ reliability. Nuclear plants are some thirsty, thirsty suckers.
The debate should be online sometime tonight. It and other APC/GPB debates can be viewed here.
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
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November 14th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Its simple, we must have energy from sources other than fossil fuels; currently nuclear being the best choice.
It may be a water hog, but we have water and lots of it.
Way to go Lauren “Bubba”.