Manufacture Alabama endorses Twinkle Cavanaugh for PSC president

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The powerful pro-business consortium Manufacture Alabama has endorsed Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh for re-election to the presidency of the state Public Service Commission.

The group cited Cavanaugh’s conservative “business-minded” approach to regulations and said her leadership on the commission helped protect the pocketbooks of Alabamians.

“Throughout her tenure at the PSC, Twinkle has protected ratepayers by standing up to environmental extremists and the federal government’s mounting EPA regulations,” said Manufacture Alabama President George Clark. “Her business-minded leadership at the PSC is vital to our state and our state’s industry — because when the price of energy rises, the impact is felt not only by residential and industrial ratepayers but also by our state’s business climate. Competitive and reliable energy is necessary to drive business.”

Cavanaugh, a Republican, responded in kind to the group’s endorsement. She expressed a shared commitment to promoting economic growth through a conservative regulatory style.

“During these difficult times, the most important issues for Alabama families are jobs, jobs, jobs. Growing manufacturing jobs in our state is critical to putting mamas and daddies back to work,” said Cavanaugh.

“If re-elected, I will continue to fight the liberal EPA and rogue environmental interests in their efforts to raise energy costs and burden employers with mandates that jeopardize our ability to retain and attract good-paying jobs for Alabamians,” continued Cavanaugh.

Cavanaugh joined the commission in 2010 and was re-elected in 2012 after a narrow loss to Democrat Lucy Baxley in 2008. The PSC regulates and approves rates for the state’s energy utilities.

Cavanaugh so far faces a challenge from former commissioner Terry Dunn, who joined the race just before the qualifying deadline in November. Dunn originally filed for the race in August, but then dropped out in October citing concerns that the utilities would spend “a lot of money” to defeat his bid to return to the commission.

Before joining the commission, Cavanaugh served as the state Republican Party’s first female executive director and an adviser to former Gov. Bob Riley.

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