To me, Glenn McCullough is many things--my friend, my hometown Mayor, my neighbor. I have know Glenn, his wife Laura and his two sons, all of whom are here today, for many years. He and I have worked closely on a variety of issues and projects important to our community and the State of Mississippi. His reputation is unblemished, and he is held in the highest esteem first and foremost for his personal characteristics, his impressive achievements, and his ability to work with people from all walks of life.
Glenn's experience, background, knowledge, and work ethic make him uniquely qualified for this position. As the Mayor of Tupelo, and formerly Mississippi's representative to the Appalachian Regional Commission, he has been actively involved in both the state and federal legislative processes. In these capacities, Glenn has worked with TVA and other federal and state agencies in a bi-partisan manner which has been both constructive and tremendously effective for this region of the country. From his service with the Appalachian Regional Commission, Glenn has a keen understanding of what is required to achieve results in a multistate setting.
He understands the role of today's TVA, its past, and its future, from a public policy perspective as Mayor of the City of Tupelo, which holds the distinction of being the first city to contract with TVA to supply electricity. Glenn recognizes the deep-seated relationship between TVA and its wholesale distributors, whether they be municipalities or electric power associations.
As a businessman, Glenn McCullough knows firsthand the positive effect that affordable and reliable energy has on economic development, job growth, and the subsequent benefits to the quality of life for a region which has historically been underdeveloped.
The depth and breadth of Glenn's experience make him an ideal candidate to lead TVA in a positive direction. His commitment and dedication will be of invaluable service to the 8 million customers in the seven-state TVA region. His willingness to listen and cooperate with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle will be increasingly important as the debate over electricity restructuring moves forward.
I wholeheartedly support the nomination of Glenn McCullough, Jr., to the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and respectfully urge his swift approval.
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to address this Committee today.