Gentry wants to continue to protect and serve public on Alabama PSC
He seeks the Place 1 seat in the May 19 GOP primary
Matt Gentry wants to continue to serve Alabama as a member of the state’s Public Service Commission.
Gentry, a lifelong Alabamian, is a U.S. Marine veteran, former deputy sheriff and current Cullman County Sheriff. He seeks the Place 1 seat on the PSC, and he is running against incumbent Jeremy H. Oden in the Republican primary scheduled for May 19.
With Odom on the PSC, state residents have seen utility rates continue to increase to become some of the highest in the country while efficiency has decreased. And, it’s now been more than 40 years since the PSC held a rate case hearing for the state’s largest utility.
“My whole life has been about protecting and serving the people who’ve given me the honor to serve them,” Gentry says. “Whether it’s a family farm or a small business, folks deserve a leader who shows up, listens and fights for what’s right.”
Gentry was born and raised in Cullman County, and he has served in law enforcement for more than two decades, the last 12 as sheriff. When he was first elected in 2014, he was the youngest sheriff in the state.
He says his decision to run for the PSC comes from a belief that now is the time to stand up for Alabama families in a new way.
“This isn’t about politics,” Gentry says. “It’s about doing right by the people.
“The Lord put it on my heart to serve Alabama in a new way. I’ve prayed on it, I’ve talked it over with my family, and I’m ready to get to work.”
The PSC regulates utilities such as electricity and gas, and it ensures people across the state have access to reliable service at fair prices. Gentry says he believes leadership on the PSC must reflect the needs of everyday Alabamians – not special interests.
If elected, Gentry says he will bring the same transparency and accessibility to the PSC that he’s done to the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office. He’s committed to an open-door policy, ensuring every Alabamian – not just a select few – has a voice. He pledges to travel the state, meet with constituents face-to-face and make himself available to the people he serves.
The PSC “needs leaders who understand what everyday Alabamians go through – and who won’t back down when it comes to standing up for them,” Gentry says. “Access to elected officials shouldn’t be hard.
“I will always have an open-door policy to anyone who wants to meet with me, and I won’t disappear if elected. I will continue to travel the state to hear citizens’ concerns. …
“From small farms to front porches, people deserve someone who’ll fight for them. I know what it’s like from my 25 years in law enforcement to go to work every day to fight for those individuals who need help. That’s what I aim to do when elected to the PSC.”
Gentry says the PSC is vitally important to every resident of the state, even if they don’t understand what the commission does.
“That’s one thing that most people don’t think about or know about, but that’s a position that affects all citizens across Alabama, whether it’s in Cullman County or Baldwin County,” Gentry told AL.com. “When I looked at what they regulate and the things that that position can do for the community and with the continual push from people, citizens. I knew that was the good Lord leading me in that direction.”
While campaigning, Gentry says he has talked to people from all walks of life across the state.
“Over the past several months, I’ve traveled across Alabama meeting with citizens, consumers, farmers, and small business owners,” Gentry says. “No matter where I go, from rural communities to growing cities, the message is almost universal with Republicans: the people want a public rate hearing. They want transparency. They want answers. And they want relief from some of the highest power bills in the nation.
“Alabama families are working hard, but many are feeling squeezed by rising utility costs. The people deserve the opportunity to be heard in a full, open, and transparent rate hearing. That’s how accountability works. When I’m elected as the next PSC commissioner, I will call for a public rate hearing as the first order of business.”
Gentry also says he believes PSC members should continue to be elected by Alabamians despite efforts to have them appointed.
“I’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with good citizens all my life to protect them from those who have bad intentions,” he says. “I do not support efforts to remove Public Service Commissioners from being elected by the people.
“The PSC belongs to the citizens of Alabama, not political insiders. If elected, I will fight to protect the people’s right to vote and to ensure their voices are heard.”