CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced Friday the appointment of state Sen. Brooks McCabe as a member of the state Public Service Commission.
McCabe (D-Kanawha), 65, will begin his new job Nov. 15. He decided earlier this year not to seek reelection to the Senate. He’ll resign his seat next week. McCabe will replace commissioner Ryan Palmer on the three-member PSC.
“I’m grateful for Commissioner Palmer’s service, and I wish him the best in his role with the Federal Communications Commission,” Gov. Tomblin said in a news release. “Brooks McCabe’s professional background and years of dedicated service as a member of the West Virginia Legislature make him both experienced and knowledgeable on a variety of issues that come before our state’s PSC. I look forward to the contributions he will make.”
The appointment is key because the PSC cannot make decisions with less than two commissioners. For example, PSC Chairman Mike Albert has recused himself from an ongoing general investigation into the response of West Virginia American Water Company following the Jan. 9 chemical leak and water emergency. It would be difficult for the case to move forward with an ongoing vacancy on the PSC.
McCabe’s professional success has been in the area of real estate development but he was often appointed to lead the discussion in the Senate on difficult issues involving health care, workers’ compensation and pension debt. He was first elected in 1998. McCabe lost out on his leadership positions when Tomblin began acting as governor in 2010. McCabe maintained it did not play a role in his decision not to seek reelection.
Republican Dr. Tom Takubo was elected to McCabe’s seat in this week’s vote but he won’t take office until January. Gov. Tomblin could choose to appoint a Democrat to serve the rest of McCabe’s term.