TALLAHASSEE — Former Jacksonville City Councilman Art Graham was elected chairman of the Public Service Commission on a 3-1 vote Tuesday, a move that bypassed tradition and put Graham at the head of a panel that has been split by infighting and found itself at odds with the Legislature.

The position makes Graham the administrative leader of the PSC, which has far greater regulatory power over privately owned utilities than municipal-owned utilities like JEA.

Graham is one of two new commissioners on a panel that has undergone a radical shake-up in recent months as a result of clashes within the PSC, between commissioners and utilities and between the board and state lawmakers.

“I think we need to bring harmony back to the board,” Graham said in an interview Tuesday after his selection. “This is supposed to be a collegial body. We’re supposed to be able to get along.”

In selecting Graham, the commission passed over outgoing Commissioner Nathan Skop, who has two months left on the board. In the past, the PSC has elected the most senior member of the panel who has not served as chairman before.

“Never once has there been a discussion on the issue,” said Skop, the lone vote against Graham. “The long-standing tradition of the commission has been the most senior member who has not yet served as chairman is unanimously elected the next chairman.”

Lisa Edgar, who nominated Graham for the position, suggested in her remarks that the new chairman should have more than two months left on the panel.

“We must look beyond individual aspirations and strive for a reality and a function that will facilitate a focus on real issues, on real impacts and on real decisions,” said Edgar, who is the longest-serving commissioner but already has been chairwoman.

In the interview, Graham pointed out that Skop doesn’t have much time left.

“If he were to do it, it would have only been for two months,” Graham said, “and we would have been in the same position two months from now.”

Appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist in July, Graham said he would also work to restore relations with the Legislature, which has been feuding with outgoing commission members — a goal Graham nodded toward in brief remarks to commissioners following his election.

“I hope to not disappoint you,” he said, “but to lead you onto the path that I think our friends over in the House and the Senate want us to go.”

In the interview, Graham said the panel should look for “balance” between consumers and utility companies. The outgoing members of the PSC have been criticized by some industry groups for being too hostile to utilities.

Former chairwoman Nancy Argenziano, a former Republican lawmaker, left the PSC this month to endorse Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink’s campaign for governor. Sink, the Democratic nominee, faces Republican Rick Scott, a former health-care executive, in the election under way.

Argenziano’s time on the commission was running out when a nominating commission headed by GOP lawmakers decided not to interview her for a new term.

brandon.larrabee@jacksonville.com, (678) 977-3709

link: http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2010-10-26/story/former-jackso...