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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Jones named to UTC panel

From staff reports

A former Spokane resident is one of two appointments to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission made Wednesday by Gov. Christine Gregoire.

Phil Jones, a one-time energy aide to Sen. Dan Evans who currently works a consultant in Seattle, was named to replace Richard Hempstad on the three-person commission.

Former Seattle City Attorney Mark Sidran, an unsuccessful candidate for state attorney general in the 2004 Democratic primary, was named to replace Commission Chairwoman Marilyn Showalter.

In announcing the appointments, Gregoire said the two will bring a balanced view to the commission, which oversees aspects of energy, transportation and telecommunications.

“The commission must strike a balance between ensuring affordable rates and adequate supplies to customers and the reasonable investment-backed expectations of those who build and maintain utilities,” she said.

Jones worked for Evans during the mid-1980s, when President Reagan’s budget advisors were pushing for an increase in federal energy rates from the Bonneville Power Administration, and helped prepare an economic analysis on the harm those increases would do to businesses, residents and communities. He said the Bush administration’s recent plans to raise BPA rates feels like “déjÀ vu.”

Jones grew up in Spokane and graduated from Shadle Park High School. His brother, Patrick Jones, is the associate director of the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute. His late father, Clair Jones, owned Harvey’s clothing store, which operated in Spokane for 44 years.