Campbell elected LPSC Chairman

Foster Campbell was elected chairman of the Louisiana Public Service Commission at an LPSC meeting in Baton Rouge on Jan. 25.

Campbell, D-Bossier City, has served on the commission as its District 5 (North Louisiana) representative since 2003. He was nominated for chairman by current LPSC Chairman Jimmy Field of Baton Rouge and seconded by Commissioner Lambert Boissiere of New Orleans.

Commissioners Clyde Holloway of Forest Hill and Eric Skrmetta of Metairie supported a substitute motion to have Field serve another year as chairman. Field declined, saying Campbell had been a commissioner since 2003 without serving as chairman. The Holloway motion failed by a 2-3 vote.

Field then offered his original motion and it prevailed 3-2, with Campbell and Boissiere voting yea and Holloway and Skrmetta voting no.

By unwritten rule the LPSC traditionally alternates the chairmanship and vice-chairmanship among its five members with the leaders chosen at January meetings. During his tenure Campbell has been nominated for chairman several times but never elected, until now. He will take the chairman’s gavel at the LPSC meeting in Pineville Feb. 15.