Burgess, a political newcomer, was a career staffer with the commission until his appointment in 1999 to complete the term of Mac Barber who had resigned to run unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor. Barber had tried this year to win his old seat back, but Burgess defeated him handily in the primary this summer. Though none of the candidates raised huge amounts compared to the other statewide race for the U.S. Senate, the challengers promised to cut utility rates and blamed Wise and Burgess for general dissatisfaction with the results of opening the state's natural-gas market to competition. Wise and Burgess argued that while the commission oversaw the gas market's deregulation they said they were hampered by legislative restrictions they disagreed with. I don't want more power.
Most people run a high visibility campaign.
I made the other guy come after me,'' said Bartell.