Tuscumbia Attorney Brent Woodall Qualifies for PSC Place 2, Challenging Commissioner Chris Beeker

TUSCUMBIA, Ala. - Tuscumbia attorney and former state and federal prosecutor Brent Woodall has officially qualified with the Alabama Republican Party to run for Public Service Commission Place 2, setting up a primary challenge against incumbent Commissioner Chris Beeker.

Woodall, a lifelong conservative, framed his campaign around what he describes as the Commission's failure to protect consumers from rising utility costs. He pointed to reports showing Alabama with the third‑highest utility bills in the nation and the highest rates in the Southeast, arguing that the PSC has not fulfilled its mission of balancing the interests of regulated companies and the public.

"The commissioners of the Alabama Public Service Commission have failed to carry out the agency's mission," Woodall said. "This failure is evident in reports indicating that Alabama has the third‑highest utility bills in the nation and the highest rates in the Southeast. I question the Commission's response to these findings, noting that the PSC voted to freeze rates at their current levels."

Woodall criticized the rate freeze as insufficient, saying it locks in historically high costs rather than addressing affordability.

"Freezing rates at historically high levels does not equate to providing affordable utility services for consumers," he said. "This is the result of a commissioner who lacks both experience and commitment to the responsibilities of the office, and whose primary concern appears to be receiving a paycheck rather than serving the public. We need conservative leadership at the Public Service Commission."

Woodall also questioned Beeker's qualifications, noting that the incumbent was appointed to the seat after his father resigned and had no prior PSC experience at the time.

"I have four years of experience at the PSC - that is more experience than the current commissioner has today," Woodall said.

He emphasized that Place 2 needs a commissioner who will work "just as diligently on behalf of ratepayers as for utility companies," adding, "Alabama deserves a commissioner who will actively do the job, not simply collect a paycheck."

Woodall's background includes service as an Assistant Attorney General, an Assistant United States Attorney, and Chief of Staff to a PSC commissioner. He lives in Colbert County with his wife, Marie, and their children, Hannah and Daniel.

The Republican primary is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19.