Tim Echols
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Tim Echols
| image = 00026.jpg
| office = Member of the Georgia Public Service Commission
from the 2nd district
| governor = Nathan Deal
Brian Kemp
| term_start = January 1, 2011
| term_end =
| predecessor = Bobby Baker
| successor =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|11|1}}
| birth_place = Clayton County, Georgia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| spouse = Windy Davis
| education = University of Georgia (BA, MA, MA)
| children = 7
}}
Tim G. Echols (born November 1, 1960) is an elected official originally from Clayton County, Georgia, who was elected to the Athens-area seat on the Georgia Public Service Commission as a Republican in 2010.{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/congress/gops-echols-elected-to-ga-utility-commission-106581563.html|title=GOP's Echols elected to Ga. utility commission|work=Washington Examiner|last=Henry|first=Ray|date=November 2, 2010}} Echols unsuccessfully attempted to be appointed to the United States Senate in 2019. Echols currently serves as vice-chairman of the commission.{{cite web|url=https://psc.ga.gov/about-the-psc/commissioners/tim-echols/#:~:text=A%20younger%20Tim%20Echols%20was,the%20Atlanta%20Airport%20Rotary%20Club.|title=Commissioner Tim Echols|website=Georgia Public Service Commission|accessdate=September 11, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://wgxa.tv/news/local/georgia-clean-energy-roadshow-shifts-gear-to-virtual|title=Georgia Clean Energy Roadshow shifts gear to virtual|website=WGXA|last1=Speir|first1=Joseph|date=August 22, 2020|accessdate=September 11, 2020}}
Political career
In 1994,{{Cite web |date=2019-01-25 |title=25th Anniversary - TeenPact |url=https://teenpact.com/25th-anniversary/#:~:text=Eighteen%20students%20met%20in%20the,in%2045%20states%20and%20counting. |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=teenpact.com |language=en-US}} Echols created the national non-profit, TeenPact, that began only in Georgia but now operates in 49 states.{{cite web|url=https://teenpact.com/meet-our-founder/|title=Meet our Founder|website=TeenPact|last1=Martin|first1=Peter|date=November 12, 2017}}
Echols served on Governor Sonny Perdue's office of Children and Families for 5 years. He was treasurer and spokesperson for U.S. representative Paul Broun.{{cite web|url=http://onlineathens.com/stories/011009/new_375747501.shtml|title=Broun aide's firm to court GOP|website=Online Athens|last1=Aued|first1=Blake|date=January 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524164412/http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/011009/new_375747501.shtml|archive-date=May 24, 2009|url-status=dead}} In 2009, Echols was campaign manager and senior policy advisor for Republican gubernatorial candidate John Oxendine, who lost the Republican primary to Nathan Deal.{{cite web|url=http://onlineathens.com/stories/102610/new_725905743.shtml|title=PSC contest pits political aides against one another|first1=Walter C.|last1=Jones|website=Online Athens|date=October 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508104122if_/http://onlineathens.com/stories/102610/new_725905743.shtml#.Vy8X3Oj7TIU|archive-date=May 8, 2016|url-status=dead}} In 2010, Echols won against Democratic candidate Keith Moffett in a race to become the Athens-area public service commissioner,{{cite web|url=http://onlineathens.com/stories/110310/new_730122776.shtml|title=Georgia commissioners: Locals Echols and Hudgens part of Republican clean sweep|website=Online Athens|date=November 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111042702/http://onlineathens.com/stories/110310/new_730122776.shtml|archive-date=January 11, 2015|url-status=dead|last1=Henry|first1=Ray}} after first defeating fellow Republicans Jeff May and Joey Brush in the primary,{{cite web|url=http://savannahnow.com/effingham-now/2010-07-24/district-2-commission-race-heads-runoff|title=District 2 commission race heads to runoff|newspaper=Savannah Morning News|last1=Hodgin|first1=Wayne|date=July 24, 2010}} and then John Douglas in the primary run-off.{{cite web|url=http://onlineathens.com/stories/010411/new_765035733.shtml|title=New Leaders: Public Service Commissioner-Elect Tim Echols energetic about the state's future|website=Online Athens|last1=Aued|first1=Blake|date=January 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510014744/http://onlineathens.com/stories/010411/new_765035733.shtml|archive-date=May 10, 2011|url-status=dead}}
In December 2016, Echols won re-election to another six-year term as a commissioner. His campaign was focused around a promise to keep electric rates low and support renewable energy development. His second term began on January 1, 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/2617-georgia-public-service-commissions-echols-wins-second-term/|title=Georgia Public Service Commission's Echols wins second term|date=2016-12-20|newspaper=Daily Energy Insider|author=Daily Energy Insider Reports|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-21}} In September 2019, Echols filed with Governor Brian Kemp's office for consideration to replace Senator Johnny Isakson.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/quest-for-kemp-support-leads-new-phase-georgia-senate-race/UgkzL8eR9nRK1h4bsQyQcO/|title=Quest for Kemp's support leads to new phase in Georgia Senate race|last=Bluestein|first=Greg|website=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=September 20, 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-10-15}} Kemp eventually appointed Kelly Loeffler to the open seat.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/12/04/784743977/against-trumps-wishes-georgia-gov-appoints-kelly-loeffler-to-fill-senate-seat|title=Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Picks Kelly Loeffler To Fill Senate Seat|website=NPR|last1=Booker|first1=Brakkton|date=December 4, 2019|accessdate=February 26, 2020}} Echols then proceeded to endorse Loeffler's campaign.{{cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/georgia-senate-echols-backs-loeffler-campaign/vNUFGc74FIXxGutxPJo9lK/|title=Georgia Senate: Echols backs Loeffler's campaign|website=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|last1=Bluestein|first1=Greg|date=May 14, 2020|accessdate=August 5, 2020}}
=Political positions=
Echols supports fracking, and has also expressed support for a nuclear power plant located in Georgia, albeit with the caveat that the entire project be privatised.{{cite web|url=http://www.gpb.org/news/2011/03/25/echols-privatize-nuclear-waste-disposal|title=Echols: Privatize Nuclear Waste Disposal|last1=Brown|first1=Noel|date=March 25, 2011|work=Georgia Public Broadcasting}} Additionally, he has expressed opposition to proposed EPA regulations regarding coal usage.{{cite web|url=http://cms.psc.state.ga.us/site/assets/files/1450/echols_abc_op-ed_6-27-14_epa_regs_will_hurt_business_and_consumers.pdf|title=EPA regs will hurt business and consumers|website=Public Service Commission of Georgia|last1=Echols|first1=Tim}}{{cite web|url=http://cms.psc.state.ga.us/site/assets/files/1159/scanpic1.jpg|title=Sweet 16 for natural gas in Georgia|website=Public Service Commission of Georgia|last1=Echols|first1=Tim}} Echols is a proponent of electric cars, and has called for expanded tax incentives for their ownership.{{cite web|url=https://electrek.co/2019/12/18/meet-the-georgia-republican-politician-pushing-hard-for-evs/|title=Meet the Georgia Republican politician pushing hard for EVs|website=Electrek|last1=Berman|first1=Bradley|date=December 18, 2019|accessdate=September 12, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/opinion/republican-pushes-revive-georgia-electric-vehicle-market/RBPHf3CwDAYIMs48PjqXuL/|title=A Republican pushes to revive Georgia's electric vehicle market|website=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|last1=Galloway|first1=Jim|date=December 18, 2019|accessdate=September 12, 2020}}
During the campaign for office, Echols opposed SB31, a 2008 bill by state lawmakers allowing Georgia Power to collect the finance costs for building a new nuclear power plant from its customers before construction is finished. Additionally, Echols has encouraged the recycling of nuclear waste.{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2015/01/02/a-new-year-s-resolution-on-recycling.html|title=A New Year's resolution on recycling|date=January 2, 2015|last1=Echols|first1=Tim|work=Atlanta Business Chronicle}} Echols has encouraged the completion of the Mixed Oxide Fuel facility at the Savannah River Site near Aiken, SC.{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2014/10/21/viewpoint-turning-old-bombs-into-carbon-free.html|title=Viewpoint: Turning old bombs into carbon-free electricity|date=October 21, 2014|last1=Echols|first1=Tim|work=Atlanta Business Chronicle}}
=Controversies=
In 2011, Echols, used an official Georgia Public Service Commission letterhead to request admission to the practice round of the Masters Golf Tournament over 11 months after entries to the ticket lottery were due, which caused accusations that he was using his position for personal gain. Echols claimed that this was due to his desire to spot check limousines and ensure that they were registered in Georgia. Echols eventually conceded that his actions were improper and he should not have requested the tickets.{{cite news|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/state-utility-commissioners-pursuit-of-masters-tic/nQK8q/|title=State utility commissioner's pursuit of Master's tickets improper, critics say|newspaper=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|last1=Swartz|first1=Kristi E.|date=August 25, 2011}}
In early 2014, Echols weighed in on the Georgia Right to Life controversy supporting Dan Becker and GRTL's leadership.{{cite web|url=http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2014/03/26/a-surprise-bid-to-reduce-the-clout-of-georgia-right-to-life/|title=A surprise bid to undercut the clout of Georgia Right to Life|website=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|last1=Galloway|first1=Jim|date=March 26, 2014}}
In 2018, subsequent to an investigation by the Energy and Policy Institute, a watchdog group filed an ethics complaint against Echols for violating Georgia’s Open Records Act.{{Cite news |last=Ondieki |first=Anastaciah |title=Watchdog group questions legality of Ga. PSC commissioner’s deleted texts |language=English |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/watchdog-group-questions-legality-psc-commissioner-deleted-texts/lLrZvUgI5JzpyQ0WomlnyI/ |access-date=2022-03-16 |issn=1539-7459}} Echols appeared to have deleted text messages from his personal phone that could have contained conversations between Echols and Georgia Power prior to a vote on Plant Vogtle's continued construction.
Personal life
Echols married Windy Davis Echols around 1982. They have 7 children.{{cite web|url=http://www.psc.state.ga.us/pscinfo/bios/echols.asp|title=Georgia Public Service Commission|publisher=Georgia Public Service Commission}} They live together in Atlanta, Georgia.{{Cite web |date=2018-02-02 |title=Tim Echols - TeenPact |url=https://teenpact.com/staff/tim-echols/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=teenpact.com |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.timechols.com/ Tim Echols website]
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{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Bobby Baker}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Georgia Public Service Commission
from the 2nd district|years=2011–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{Current Georgia statewide political officials}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Echols, Tim}}
Category:Georgia (U.S. state) Republicans
Category:Georgia Public Service Commission