A state agency's hiring of a staff attorney is usually a ho-hum affair. But the Florida Public Service Commission managed to make its appointment last week of a new general counsel a bit more interesting than some might have liked.
Traditionally, the PSC has hired its general counsel from among staff attorneys at the PSC or the Office of Public Counsel, the state's consumer advocate on utility issues. But last Monday, the PSC voted 3-2 to approve the appointment of Richard Melson, a 56-year-old lawyer who has represented utility companies, including MCI and Progress Energy Florida Inc., before the PSC on behalf of the Tallahassee law firm of Hopping Green & Sams.
In addition, according to commissioner Charles Davidson, who voted against Melson's appointment, the PSC departed from its usual (but not required) practice of advertising the vacancy, which is created by the retirement Nov. 1 of Harold McLean.
"He's a strong candidate," Davidson said of Melson. "My point is that there may be tens of other strong candidates."
Melson, who was nominated by commissioner Braulio Baez, acknowledged that he will have to recuse himself from about a half-dozen current cases before the PSC in which he has had a "substantial personal involvement." But he said his past work on behalf of utility companies will "absolutely not" be a hindrance otherwise.
"The idea is to use my expertise and experience," he said.
