Olson, Vincent vie for PSC seat

By DAVE RICHARDSON Chronicle Staff Writer

Each of the two candidates for the state Public Service Commission’s District 3 seat may be assured of an easy primary victory, but the road to the November election is sure to produce some sparks.

Democrat John Vincent and Republican Alan Olson will square off in November for the seat. Each is unopposed in Tuesday’s primary.

Both men have a long history of service in office.

Vincent spent 16 years in the Montana House, serving as Speaker of the House twice. He served on the Bozeman City Commission for four years, two as mayor. He was also a Gallatin County commissioner for six years.

Olson served eight years in the state House, all of them on the House Energy and Technology Committee, with four years as its chairman.

Both men say they opposed deregulation of Montana utilities.

“My key issue is to continue down the path I established in the Legislature to bring a close to deregulation, and bring stability back for utility ratepayers and utility companies,” Olson said.

Olson is currently working as an environmental field technician for the state’s Board of Oil and Gas Conservation and is a 30-year veteran of the private oil and gas industry.

Both men support wind power as an alternative to coal and other more traditional energy sources.

Vincent said he’d also vigorously promote other “green,” clean, renewable energy sources like solar and geothermal power. He supports the Western Climate Initiative and would work to promote consensus on energy policy.

“We need a Montana energy partnership, an all-inclusive alliance of key players … working together to carve out an energy policy that will provide reliable, affordable and clean energy well into the future,” Vincent said.

A third candidate, Republican Pat Wagman, withdrew from the race.

Alan Olson-R

Age: 52

Years in office: Eight years in state House.

Occupation: Environmental field technician, state Board of Oil and Gas Conservation.

Family: Wife, Jean; three children; three grandchildren.

Key issue: Undoing utility deregulation.

Community service: None currently.

Favorite quote: “Providing reliable, safe and low-cost utilities will be my goal as your public service commissioner.”

John Vincent-D

Age: 65

Years in office: 16 years in state House; former Gallatin County commissioner and Bozeman City commissioner.

Occupation: Semi-retired small business owner.

Family: Wife, Peggy; one daughter; one grandson.

Key issue: Reliable, affordable, clean and renewable energy.

Community service: Volunteer work for Monforton and Gallatin Gateway schools.

Favorite quote: “I believe in dignity, and I believe in pride, and I believe we carry 'round a power deep inside, that heartaches on heartaches never erase, awaiting redemption, praying for grace.”

Dave Richardson can be reached at drichardson@dailychronicle.com or 582-2648.

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