Senate Confirms Chong as 1st APA Utilities Commissioner
January 19, 2007
After nearly a year on the job as a commissioner on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), San Francisco resident Rachelle Chong was finally confirmed by a 33-0 vote of the state Senate on Jan. 11. The vote had to come by the Jan. 12 anniversary date of her appointment by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, or Chong faced losing her seat.
A week before, Chong withstood nearly two and a half hours of grilling and public comment before the Senate Rules Committee, chaired by California Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland).
The growing political sophistication among minority groups was exhibited by the cross-cultural and cross-party support of Chong, a republican. She had the backing of Asian, Hispanic and black American groups that included small business and consumer groups, describing Chong as “intelligent, competent and accessible, with a face that looks like California.”
But several large and vocal consumer groups cast a wide net of disapproval, saying Chong’s free market approach was to the detriment of consumers. They pointed to her role in adding regulatory language that buttressed deregulation for telephone giant AT&T by lifting some consumer disclosure rules, and her vote against a consumer education bill.
For her part, Chong has organized a consumer team from additional personnel granted by the Legislature, and has created a consumer information center on the CPUC website. She also led efforts to reach out to limited-English and underserved communities.
Still, Perata and his colleagues on the Rules Committee — two other democrats and two republicans — delayed the initial vote by a week before submitting her confirmation for a full floor vote.
“We don’t make too many decisions that are as important as this one,” said Perata. He also told Chong, “Don’t read anything more into this than it’s Don’s way of making sure everyone has an opportunity to kick the tires.”
Chong’s reward was not the immediate thumbs-up she had hoped for but more precious: big hugs from her twin eight-year-old daughters that prompted Perata to gush at their adorability.
“Next time we’ll have ice cream for you,” quipped Perata, noting how patient and well-behaved the youngsters had been as they sat with their father and other Chong supporters.
Last-minute drama was created by a Jan. 8 letter opposing Chong’s confirmation authored and hand-circulated by Geoffrey Brown, former San Francisco Public Defender and former CPUC Commissioner. In return, current CPUC President Michael Peevey fired off a Jan. 10 rebuttal to address “egregious misstatements” about Chong.
As Perata weighed concerns, he was ultimately satisfied with Chong’s assurances that such concerns would be timely addressed and remedied. The Rules Committee ultimately moved her confirmation unanimously “without recommendation” a day before the full Senate vote.
Chong’s seat lasts two more years as she fills out the remainder of the term of Susan Kennedy, a democrat who was selected by Schwarzenegger to be his chief of staff. The five members of the CPUC are appointed to six-year terms and oversee a budget of about $1.2 billion and over 830 employees.
Capitol observers say Chong’s actions this past year reflect those of Kennedy and that they are allies and remain close.
Chong, 47, a fourth-generation Chinese American, is a Stockton native and telecommunications attorney with two decades of experience. She became the first Asian American commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission in 1994, when President Bill Clinton tapped her to fill a vacant republican seat, and served two terms.
“I think the state confirmation process has been tougher than my previous experience for FCC because I have been on the job and I am out there,” said Chong. “In the federal process, you don’t fill the seat until you get confirmed.”
In between CPUC meetings, Chong anxiously found out she had been approved. “It is an honor to be appointed to the Commission by Gov. Schwarzenegger, and it is an honor to be confirmed today by the state Senate,” she said.
“I would like to particularly thank Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, the Senate leadership, and the many fine organizations and individuals who supported me,” she continued.
She pledged to bring “the most advanced communications services at the most reasonable prices, in order to enhance economic development” for California, and to ensure “reliable, affordable and environmentally clean energy, and clean water to drink.”
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