Vincent, Wagman to run for PSC

By SCOTT McMILLION Chronicle Staff Writer

Former Gallatin County commissioner and state representative John Vincent will run for the Montana Public Service Commission, he announced Thursday.

The veteran Democratic politician, now 65, said he wants to fill the seat currently held by Bob Raney, another veteran Democratic legislator from Livingston. Raney has said he won't seek another term.

Two Republicans also have announced plans to run for the position. They are Pat Wagman, a former legislator from Livingston, and Alan Olson, a Republican legislator from Roundup.

Whoever is elected will represent district three, which includes a swath of Montana extending from Roundup to Dillon.

Vincent served 16 years in the Montana House of Representatives and was twice elected speaker of the House. He has been a Bozeman city commissioner, Bozeman's mayor and most recently was a Gallatin County commissioner for six years. He also taught high school government and history for 30 years in Bozeman.

Vincent sought to return to the Legislature last year, but was defeated by incumbent Republican Roger Koopman.

Wagman, 50, is a captain with Livingston Fire and Rescue and served two terms in the Legislature, filling the seat that Raney occupied for 16 years. He lost in the 2006 election to Democrat Bob Ebinger.

Olson, 51, has worked in the oil and gas industry for 30 years, he said Thursday, and has been active in energy and utility issues in the Legislature, where he chaired the House Federal Relations, Energy and Telecommunications Committee. Term limits block him from seeking another term.

He now works for the oil and gas division of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

The Public Service Commission is a five-member elected panel charged with overseeing public utilities.

“The commission tries to balance the interests of ratepayers who are concerned about utility costs with the utilities' need to have the opportunity to earn a fair rate of return on their investment,” the commission's Web site says.

It regulates privately owned natural gas, electric, telephone, water and sewer companies. It also has some authority over intrastate railroads and some motor carriers and oversees natural gas-pipeline safety regulations.

The commission also sets utility rates.

“With what we know about energy and the future, I think it's a pretty important position,” Vincent said Thursday. “I'm strongly committed to alternative energies and investigating all of them to the fullest extent possible.”

Scott McMillion is at scottm@dailychronicle.com

Reader Comments