Jeremy Oden Responds to Governor’s Appointment to the Public Service Commission

Nov. 30, 2012 - PRLog -- Governor Robert Bentley announced today that he will appoint State Representative Jeremy H. Oden (R-Eva) to the Public Service Commission.   Oden will fill the vacancy created by the election of then-Associate Commissioner Twinkle Cavanaugh to President of the Commission.  Oden will resign his legislative seat, where he represents House District 11, immediately prior to his appointment and be sworn in as Associate Commissioner on Monday December 3, 2012.

“The experience of serving the people of District 11 for the past 14 years has been life changing,” Oden stated. “They are great people and have supported me as I did my best to represent them in Montgomery.  Great thanks are due to Governor Bentley for his confidence in me.  My foremost duty will be the protection of all Alabamians as I look out for their interests on the Public Service Commission.”

“I look forward to working with Governor Bentley, legislators, President Cavanaugh, and Associate Commissioner Dunn to keep the Public Service Commission strong for the people of Alabama. The Legislature created the Public Service Commission to give Alabamians a watchdog with a noble purpose – ensuring access to reliable, affordable energy for all Alabamians.   As Commissioner, I intend to do just that,” Oden said.

He continued, “I will do everything I can to support Governor Bentley’s mission to put Alabamians back to work.  Our state’s low-cost energy assists in job recruitment, and I think the Public Service Commission can and should be a major part of initiatives to create jobs.”

In his former capacity in the House of Representatives, Oden represented portions of Morgan, Cullman, and Blount Counties in North Alabama.  A lifelong resident of North Alabama, he was first elected in 1998 and has served on the Education Trust Fund Committee and the Energy Council as a House member.  Active in Republican politics for many years, Oden was instrumental in the founding of the Brindlee Mountain Republican Club, which was heavily involved in local races in rural North Alabama as the GOP wave began to sweep Alabama.  Oden received the Second Amendment Guardian Award from the Republican Caucus for his defense of gun ownership rights and was recognized by his fellow House members as the House’s Outstanding Member in 2006.

Oden has worked in a variety of capacities since 2004 at EvaBank, most recently as Vice President – Marketing and Public Relations. He currently owns and operates Oden Farms, a working farm, in the Eva area. An ordained minister, Oden has served in North Alabama churches for nearly 20 years, most recently with Abundant Grace Church in Cullman.  He is married to the former Samantha Nelson of Morgan County and they have one daughter, Anika.

CONTACT:
Jeremy Oden
256-565-7726