FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 7, 2006

GOVERNOR BARBOUR APPOINTS BENTZ TO POSITION ON PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

(JACKSON, Mississippi) * Governor Haley Barbour today named State Representative Leonard Bentz of Biloxi to fill the vacant position from the Southern District on the three-member Mississippi Public Service Commission.

Bentz, 34, a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives since January 2004, replaces former Commissioner Michael Callahan of Hattiesburg, who resigned to lead the Electric Power Associations of Mississippi. Prior to his appointment, which is effective today, Bentz submitted a letter of resignation from his House seat representing District 116.

"I appreciate Leonard's service in the House and am delighted he has accepted this new challenge. With his knowledge and experience he will do an outstanding job representing the Southern District on the Public Service Commission," Governor Barbour said.

"I am looking forward to being Public Service Commissioner for the Southern District to ensure that customers have reliable power service at reasonable rates," Bentz said.

Bentz, who is a former investigator for the Public Service Commission and former Harrison County deputy sheriff, graduated from Biloxi High School, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi. He has been in the property management business.

Bentz and his wife, the former Amber Fayard, are the parents of two sons, Len, 13, and Hunter, 8.