MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representative Smith (39th)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING MR. JERRY L. CAMPBELL FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION.

WHEREAS, Mr. Jerry L. Campbell has served as the Executive Director of the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association for 22 years; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Campbell has been a tireless champion of the consumers' interest in our state, a strong spokesman for public power and an objective voice of reason and integrity in the State of Mississippi and across the Valley region; and

WHEREAS, during his 22-year tenure as Executive Director, Mr. Campbell has adhered to a common sense approach to solving problems and has stood tall as a leader, displaying professionalism and sound judgement in all his endeavors in the seven state Valley region and in the national arena of public power; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Campbell has labored behind the scenes with this Legislature and the federal government to preserve and protect the interests of all the electric utility rate payers of this state, and in the neighboring Valley states, where consumer owned utilities serve their customer-owners; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Campbell has diligently worked to defend the rights of Valley citizens in this state and throughout the region to continue to enjoy the benefits of navigation, flood control and land stewardship which are provided through the Tennessee Valley Authority with annual appropriations from the federal government; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Campbell has fought to preserve the historic preference principle and protect thousands of our citizens and rate payers of the 28 consumer-owned utilities in Mississippi which buy their power from the Tennessee Valley Authority, from having to pay, through their local electric bills, for the cost of navigation and flood control which is regularly provided by federal government appropriations to other agencies in all other regions of our nation; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of challenges that changed the utility workplace environment, Mr. Campbell fostered the creation of a comprehensive technical education and training effort to upgrade skills and retrain the employees of consumer-owned utilities through this state and the Valley region in order that they may continue their productive employment and better serve the utility customers, through their local utilities, in the communities where they live and work; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Campbell responded with creativity and innovation during a time of adversity, when consumer-owned utilities in this state and through the Valley region were faced with the unexpected loss of their commercial liability and other insurance, by successfully creating a captive insurance company to meet the unique insurance needs of his association's utility members at low cost; and

WHEREAS, his efforts through Tennessee Valley Public Power Association, to maintain reliable, safe, low-cost electric power as the strategic engine that drives a significant portion of the economic chain of events of our state, have helped to create and retain jobs in our local communities, fostered the development of new industries and other beneficial economic development projects, which in turn have generated tax revenues to support the development of new and improved public infrastructure to improve the overall quality of life that our citizens enjoy in our local communities and in our state; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Campbell greatly appreciates the support and fellowship he receives from the many employees and volunteer governing board members of the 28 consumer-owned Tennessee Valley Authority power distributors in Mississippi, who have helped him carry the torch for public power in our communities for many years; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend such outstanding citizens as Mr. Jerry L. Campbell, a remarkable servant who has given unselfishly of his time and talents to serve the citizens of this state and the Valley region:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Mr. Jerry L. Campbell for his many years of meritorious service as Executive Director of the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association and extend our heartiest wishes for success in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Jerry L. Campbell and members of the Capitol Press Corps.