For Immediate Release                                                                       Contact: Sam Duvall
March 25, 2010                                                                                   Tele: (334) 481-2129

ForestPAC Endorses Chris “Chip” Beeker for Public Service Commission, Place 1
MONTGOMERY— ForestPAC, the Political Action Committee of the Alabama Forestry Association, has endorsed Chris “Chip” Beeker for Place 1 on the Alabama Public Service Commission in the June 1 Republican primary.

Chris Isaacson, Executive Vice President of the Alabama Forestry Association, said that Chip Beeker’s political experience, coupled with his strong family values and business experience, is exactly what’s needed to deal with the regulatory issues at the PSC.

“Having served as a County Commissioner and as chairman of a statewide committee that dealt with public works and rural transportation issues gives Chip Beeker the kind of experience that will make him a fine addition to the PSC,” Isaacson said. “Quite frankly, we need more candidates who know what it costs to run a business involved in decisions about such things as electric utility rates and transportation costs and fees.”

Beeker said he was glad to have the support of the forestry community in his quest to become a Commissioner at the PSC.

“I am honored and humbled to have the support of ForestPAC and the Alabama Forestry Association for my candidacy,” Beeker said. “Coming from a rural area myself, I understand the need for a reliable, stable and affordable supply of electric power for businesses and homes. I also understand that keeping transportation costs and regulations reasonable are key the survival of all most industries, but particularly those in the rural areas of the state.”            

Chip Beeker’s family roots and those of his wife Teresa run deep in the soil of Greene County, reaching back to the 1800s in both cases. Chip was elected to the Greene County Commission in 1986. He served as Assistant Chairman from 1986 to 1996. In 1997, Chip switched from Democrat to Republican. He became the first person elected as a Republican in heavily Democratic Greene County since Reconstruction. While on the Commission, Chip served as State Chairman of the Alabama Public Works and Rural Transportation Steering Committee.

Chip started his own farm in the 1970s and continues to own and operate a cattle and catfish farm today. He also started a timber management and harvesting company which has grown into one of the largest in the area.