Tim Echols on his Masters request: ‘It was a mistake’
The following article by my AJC colleague Kristi Swartz is raising eyebrows around the Capitol:
Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols began criticizing his fellow commissioners for being too cozy with lobbyists even before he took office.
I am uncomfortable taking admission, taking tickets to sporting events from those that I regulate,” he said.
Yet, using official Public Service Commission letterhead, Echols went straight to the Augusta National Golf Club to request two complimentary practice round tickets to this year’s Masters, long after tickets had been distributed to one of the world’s most prestigious golf tournaments through a lottery system.
Echols, rather than defending himself, is acknowledging the breach. He just sent the following in an unsolicited e-mail:
”The March 2 letter requesting my name be put into the practice round lottery should have been done on my personal letterhead. Period. It was a mistake.”
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter, or connect with me on Facebook.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
143 comments Add your comment
Smoke
August 25th, 2011
6:56 pm
RGB…Conservatives must be “bullies.” Why else would you call liberals “wimps?”
Barry Soetoro
August 25th, 2011
6:56 pm
homested:
The new mantra might be ‘I was elected, so what did you expect!’.
That’s what I’ve been telling the people! I was elected, so what did you expect?
Gee, the weather is just great here at Martha’s Vineyard! Even as I have enjoyed myself on the taxpayers’ dime, I have been focused like a laser on jobs and the economy.
Fore!
Smoke
August 25th, 2011
7:00 pm
Oh, so Echols’ excuse is that he should have put his “request” on his personal letterhead rather than the PSC. Yep, that clears things up. Anyone want to bet that he will not be re-elected?
Smoke
August 25th, 2011
7:04 pm
Barry can’t stay on topic if his intellectual life depended on it. You want to bet on the difference between the time spent on Martha’s Vineyard versus Crawford, Texas? We won’t include time spent with Daddy. Oh yeah, Echols still didn’t get any tickets.
findog
August 25th, 2011
7:07 pm
He asked for practice round tickets
He has cheapened the seat he holds
For that he should resign
findog
August 25th, 2011
7:09 pm
Smoke, a bully would do that in public, a true coward does it hiding behind an anonymous blog
Real Athens
August 25th, 2011
7:11 pm
“Way too long just to same that those who individual make less than $50K per year (in todays dollares) and claim to be southern conservatives have been “punked” for generations.”
Huh? Perhaps you should buy a vowel? Or Strunk and White?
findog
August 25th, 2011
7:13 pm
Barry, you mean he didn’t have any vacation leave built up?
Do you mean there is a GSA purchase order for that rental?
Do you mean the Secret Service protection?
Just what are you talking about?
eatmotacos
August 25th, 2011
7:21 pm
The Obama strategist wrote Georgia off long ago – not only are they not going to waste a millisecond of their time campaigning in this backward, redneck state, their attitude is “you made your bed, now lie in it. They aren’t going to waste a dime of the DOJ’s resources on rescuing dimwits from themselves.
clean up your yard
August 25th, 2011
7:24 pm
Barry Soetoro Still haven’t gotten over Obama beating your good old boy McCain in a landslide eh pal?? Really sucks to be you eh?
Serious Robuck
August 25th, 2011
7:27 pm
Where is td tonight? I feel lost without his illiterate defense of GOP office holders. Barry, you just don’t have the same uummmph as td. Sorry, man. You’re just a td wannabe.
findog
August 25th, 2011
7:36 pm
SR, td may be misguided but never illiterate
Actually miss Last Man Standing too, original thought to duel with and not some twisted logic wrapped in a middle ground handle
Last Man Standing
August 25th, 2011
7:52 pm
Echols, do everyone a favor and resign. You have disgraced yourself and your office. Any person using his/her elected or appointed office to gain something of value without compensation brings the word ‘malfeasance’ to mind.
Last Man Standing
August 25th, 2011
7:53 pm
findog:
I’ve been reading but not posting. I believe I’ll return, at least for a while.
findog
August 25th, 2011
7:55 pm
good man
JAWJA
August 25th, 2011
8:07 pm
SHAME ON GEORGIA!!! WE
HAVE A TOTALLY CORRUPT GOVERNMENT!
clean up your yard
August 25th, 2011
8:20 pm
A virtual Republican Hall of Shame- from the Gov’ner on down!!!
double
August 25th, 2011
8:23 pm
LMS as which alias?
Serious Robuck
August 25th, 2011
8:28 pm
The real LMS would have an excuse for any Republican, and would NEVER call for resignation. You, sir, are an imposter. Prove otherwise.
Serious Robuck
August 25th, 2011
8:36 pm
findog, td often makes good points, but much more often not. I suspect he’s a decent guy, but his use of the language, his spelling and syntax, are neither indicative of a good education, nor of one who reads regularly. Why I give a damn, I don’t know. Good night all.
I think the real LMS must be ill. LMS, if you’re reading, I wish you the best.
Last Man Standing
August 25th, 2011
8:45 pm
Serious Robuck:
I am reading, and the best to you, too. It won’t take long for you to know that I am no imposter.
You get a ‘pass’ tonight.
Last Man Standing
August 25th, 2011
8:47 pm
dribble:
Still stirring the pot, eh?
BTW, you now know I am not an imposter, don’t you? Think about it . . .
DannyX
August 25th, 2011
8:58 pm
Welcome back LMS!
Where have you been? Out having fun watching illegal aliens starving, living under bridges dying from lack of medical care?
Last Man Standing
August 25th, 2011
9:11 pm
DannyX:
Thank you for the welcome.
“Out having fun watching illegal aliens starving, living under bridges dying from lack of medical care?”
If they are not legal immigrants, I want them deported to their country of origin. Our economy is so stressed now, we can ill afford taking on someone else’s problems. If they choose to violate our laws and enter the country illegaly, they can live under bridges. It’s painfully obvious that the federal government will not enforce its’ own immigration laws.
plane driver
August 25th, 2011
9:13 pm
There were at least two other candidates in that PSC race who stood head and shoulders above Echols. Even his campaign should have raised ethics complaints using all his non profit teen pact kids for his political ground game. This guy is as corrupt as he can be, and he learned it all from his mentor, the Ox.
Last Man Standing
August 25th, 2011
9:13 pm
I must leave now. It’s time to sleep and prepare for the coming day.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
August 25th, 2011
9:15 pm
Let’s make sure to keep in perspective the fact that Bush and Cheney committed 9/11: Viz. “The New Pearl Harbor,” Griffin, Ph.D..
G-d is not mocked. There is no “thin” line between good and evil.
clean up your yard
August 25th, 2011
9:17 pm
Last Man Standing What’s painfully obvious is that the US govt will never deport 12+ million immigrants. Also painfully obvious that there will have to be some path to citizenship for them all. Write it down.
Denise Caldon
August 25th, 2011
10:32 pm
As a Plaintiff in a Georgia Whistleblower case which confirms serious violations by our state’s higher education system that continue to be ignored by our state’s judicial system, I encourage you to read the Associated Press article that states, “The FBI has assembled a new squad to investigate corruption among judges and legislators in Georgia, though the top federal agent in the state is being tightlipped about what cases are developing.” Click on: http://www.macon.com/2011/08/22/1673295/fbi-team-takes-aim-at-corruption.html Then ask the Attorney General’s Office why they filed an Objection to the Motion which would have allowed the public to finally read the facts – given that AG Sam Olens pledges more government transparency. We find the article above of strong interest given that Judge Downs denied the Motion to lift the Protective Order. Stay tuned……
Crooks Rule
August 25th, 2011
10:36 pm
psc — crooked to the core—-trying to squeeze companies for free benefits in exchange for less “regulation.” Bribery is a federal offense–will the FBI investigate this crooked member?????
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
August 25th, 2011
10:52 pm
The FBI certainly has jurisdiction over Bush’s and Cheney’s 9/11 treason. Heard anything of their efforts in the matter?
honested
August 25th, 2011
11:34 pm
Wow, I had affairs to attend to and missed all the fun.
Barry, since I wasn’t here, I hope you use plenty of astro-glide while you are fantasizing about our President.
The echols case points out all too clearly why it is dangerous to ‘elect’ some of the offices currently on the ballot. Citizens are completely unaware (although they should be) of the potential damage PSC candidates can do. The winners are usually heavily funded by tentacles of the Utilities they regulate (and so many of you thought Citizens United was a good ruling) and they maintain their allegiance to their funders. Why else would we have had a bill before our vaunted General Assembly that guaranteed each of us ‘ratepayers’ would be beholden to our monopoly electric utility for at least $14.00 per month each until someday when the Utility says they have all they need. Then, in a quiet and perfunctory manner, the PSC supports the Lege’s noble decision and we are all on the hook!!
This is madness and should have been reason to eliminate any and all incumbent PSC members, but that don’t happen here.
Good evening everyone. Enjoy the ‘bounty’ our republican masters have ‘rained’ upon us.
Prez Oboz
August 25th, 2011
11:50 pm
Should we call him Tim McHeckler when the spoiled brat when doesn’t get his way!!!
The arrogance of power
August 26th, 2011
6:15 am
He apologizes only after being exposed by the news media. Bravo to the AJC and others for catching this abuser of public office.
South Georgia retiree
August 26th, 2011
7:20 am
Echols is obviously in training to be the next governor. With a little more extortion experience, he’ll probably win.
Politi Cal
August 26th, 2011
7:47 am
And I would say that electing him to this office was also a “mistake.” At least we can fix that!
simplythetruth
August 26th, 2011
8:27 am
Between this shake down artist and guys like Chip Rogers, the Republican Party in Georgia is doing a pitiful job in policing itself. They are beginning to act just like their political opponents. Who suffers? Every damn body in this state… that’s who….Its time for ALL politicians to clean up their act.
Dumb and Dumber
August 26th, 2011
9:11 am
Its funny how folks on this blog are blaming Obama and the US Attorney for the ethical lapses of GOP politicians in this state. We are the ones who elected these clowns, yet when they show themselves to be pigs at the trough, we blame Obama and his appointed US attorney.
Now that’s priceless hypocrisy.
Joe Mama
August 26th, 2011
11:07 am
Bob — “Why do we need a PSC in the first place? Doesn’t competition determine prices? Oh that’s right, our PSC has decided that we don’t need competiton.”
Because we don’t want to end up like California did when they deregulated electricity in the late 90s and people’s bills TRIPLED.
Bill Simon
August 26th, 2011
12:23 pm
I believe this falls under the Extortion Statute of OCGA, which reads as follows:
“45-11-5. Extortion generally
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “extortion” means an unlawful taking by a public officer, under color of his office, from any person of any money or thing of value that is not due to him or more than is due to him.
(b) Any public officer who shall by himself, his deputy, his agent, or other person employed by him be guilty of extortion in demanding or receiving other and greater fees than by law are allowed him shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be dismissed from office.”
Regardless of the use of official stationery or not, Echols attempted to use his position, as well as a threat of force, to obtain tickets of a dollar value. That’s extortion, even in the barest reading of this statute.
Do we have an Attorney General or a DA (Fulton County’s Paul Howard where Echols’ office is, or in Richmond County, where the Masters’ organization is) willing to apply the law here?
Or, do we just let constitutional officers off the hook if they say “It was a mistake”?
SpaceyG on Twitter
August 26th, 2011
3:32 pm
I am deeply regretting ever asking to be taken-off of Echols’ email distribution list. It was a great show. Silly me.
south of the gnatline
August 26th, 2011
4:35 pm
Yes, Georgia has the most brazen bunch of crooks marauding as public elected officials in the nation. No telling how many free passes to the Masters and to Bulldog games have been grafted- oops, I mean grafted, by those grateful corporations they represent. As for the mysterious comment about the Olympic torch bearer, I imagine that’s an attempted chummy good ol’ boy salute to Billy Paine, who headed up the Atlanta Olympics, and well as the Masters now. Anyway, I wish we could track all the graft and bribes. For example, how many free campaign billboards are going to be given out to all those who voted in favor of that nefarious billboard bill this past session? How many free trips will Jason Shaw get, in response to the $30 million in tax breaks he got for Delta? Next time there are political debates, or a chance to ask questions of any state pol, I wish someone would ask each incumbent: did you go to the Masters this (or any) year? And just who paid for your ticket?
Bobby G.
August 30th, 2011
9:49 pm
“Golf is Republican crack. One little white ball and soon they’re wearing plaid pants and acting like criminals.”
Quick somebody, tell Obama. If you can get him out of whatever sand trap he’s in at the moment. Wouldn’t want him to start acting like a criminal. Whoops, too late!!!