NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Interviews are starting for some of the 18 people who are seeking to become the first executive director of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, which oversees utilities in the state.
State lawmakers this year changed the organization’s makeup from four full-time board members to a part-time board with five members and a full-time director.
After months of delay, the state released the names of the applicants on Friday to The Chattanooga Times Free Press ( ). Interviews begin Monday for the position that will be appointed jointly by Gov. Bill Haslam and the Republican Senate and House speakers.
Among those seeking the position include Lynn Greer, a former TRA member; Joseph Werner, a CPA in the state’s finance department; and Vivian Wilhoite, the TRA’s head of consumer education and outreach.
The new director will be paid up to $140,000 a year to start, while the board members’ pay drops from $152,000 to $36,000.
Haslam spokesman David Smith said the administration and legislative leaders are reviewing all the applicants and were looking for a large pool of candidates. Smith said there was no list for the part-time positions because they were talking with people in the industry for ideas on candidates.
It was not clear whether the new schedule would be operating by July 1 as scheduled.
Two current directors, Chairman Kenneth Hill and Sarah Kyle, will remain on the board but become part time.
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Information from: Chattanooga Times Free Press,
