A divided Florida Public Service Commission reached into the past Thursday as it chose former Commissioner Braulio Baez as the agency's new executive director.
Commissioners voted 3-2 to offer the PSC's top administrative post to Baez, a Miami lawyer who served from 2000 to 2006 on the commission and also worked in the 1990s as a staff member.
Supporters, who favored Baez over two other finalists, pointed to his knowledge of the agency and said he could quickly step into the job. Baez also served a stint as PSC chairman.
"Former Chairman Baez brings a unique understanding of the agency, brings a unique understanding of the dynamics this agency has to deal with,'' said Commissioner Ronald Brise, who joined Julie Brown and Lisa Edgar in the majority.
Edgar also pointed to turnover on the PSC, saying she has served with 16 commissioners during the past six years. She said the regulatory agency needs to make up for "lost time.''
"I think we're at an important crossroads for this agency,'' said Edgar, the commission's longest-serving member.
But Chairman Art Graham and Commissioner Eduardo Balbis voted against Baez. Graham said he favored hiring former Hillsborough County Commissioner Charles "Chris" Hart --- a stance that Balbis appeared to share.
Balbis said Baez lacked managerial experience, while Graham said he was concerned about an ethics case that stemmed from Baez's time on the commission. Baez, who had to pay a fine because of a dinner with a utility lobbyist, acknowledged during an interview Wednesday with PSC members that he had made a mistake.
Also, Graham questioned whether Baez would bring a fresh approach to the PSC.
"He didn't seem like he was the innovative-type guy,'' Graham said.
The commission has searched for an executive director since May, when longtime staff member Tim Devlin was pushed out of the job. Though perhaps little known to the public, the executive director oversees a staff that plays a crucial role in analyzing and making recommendations to the PSC about electric, water and telecommunications issues.
Though Baez still needs to reach agreement on taking the job, he would walk into a series of major issues. For example, Gulf Power Co. is seeking its first base-rate increase in about a decade, and Progress Energy Florida is grappling with a complicated repair project at the Crystal River nuclear-power plant.
Along with Hart, the other finalist was Aster Adams, director of analytical services with the Ohio Consumers' Counsel. The PSC interviewed each of the candidates Wednesday.
