ABOUT LAUREN W. MCDONALD JR.

Lauren W. McDonald, Jr. is a resident of Habersham County in North Georgia and a partner in a small business in Cumming, Georgia. He brings a lifetime of business and public service experience to the Public Service Commission. As a small businessman, McDonald operated his own hardware and building supply store for 29 years where he managed revenue, expenses and a payroll. It was this experience that taught Lauren the virtues of customer service - proper pricing and reliable service.

He served in the state legislature for 20 years representing parts of northeast Georgia. He rose to the position of House Chairman over Appropriations where he managed a $9 billion dollar state budget. He was a volunteer fireman in Commerce for 33 years, eventually rising to Chief. A native Georgian, he graduated from the University of Georgia School of Business. He also served in the Georgia National guard for six years. He and his wife Sunny, a retired educator, have been married 44 years.

Over his previous four-year tenure on the PSC, McDonald:

- Reduced electric rates by more than $1.2 billion.

Georgians enjoy reliable electric service with rates that well below the national average. With McDonald's leadership, the PSC has been able to increase generation to meet demand while keeping rates low.

- Resisted federal efforts to deregulate electric service in Georgia

Conservative fiscal management has kept rates low in the south. With great foresight, McDonald opposed policies pushed by northern states to offset their high costs at the expense of low cost southern states like Georgia.

- Improved the air we breathe by giving utilities the resources they need to reduce power plant emissions.

- Lowered long-distance bills by expanding competition and toll-free dialing to neighboring communities across Georgia.