Lucy Baxley's top priority as President of the Alabama Public Service Commission is to keep electricity rates as low and as competitive as possible to attract and maintain industry and jobs in Alabama. Not only has she presided over every Commission meeting, she has testified before the state legislature on telecommunications issues, attended national and state energy conferences, and worked to influence energy policy in Congress. Lucy is particularly well- positioned to provide citizen oversight on key issues such as energy, telecommunications and transportation. She brings leadership and integrity to the Public Service Commission.
Her impressive record and extensive experience in state government includes two previous terms as State Treasurer and one term as Lt. Governor. Having spent her early public life in city, county and state government service, Lucy went on to earn a coveted reputation in Birmingham real estate. Then in 1994 as her youngest child was starting college, she launched a remarkable and stunningly successful career in public life beginning with her first election as Alabama’s State Treasurer.
Re-elected in 1998, she received the highest number of votes cast for any candidate for constitutional office in that election. Four years later, the citizens of Alabama gave her more votes than either candidate running for governor that year, as they ushered her into the Lt. Governor’s office.
Honored with numerous awards during her years in public service, Lucy is particularly proud of being named the Senior Citizens' Golden Eagle Statesman of the Year and Outstanding Woman Leader by the American Association of University Women. Known throughout Alabama for her career-long dedication to championing the rights of the aging, she was chosen to serve as spokesperson for Senior Promise, a statewide advocacy program for senior citizens and remains closely connected with senior programs across the state. She is a member of the Auburn University Women's Philanthropy Board and the University of Alabama's XXXI (thirty-one), a women's leadership Honorary. She is a member and chair of the Advisory Council of the Alabama Federation of Democratic Women.
Lucy Baxley grew up on a farm in Houston County where her faith and simple rural upbringing helped shape the values she maintains today. She is married to Jim Smith, also a native of south Alabama. She has two children, Becky Nichols and Louis Baxley, and two grandchildren. Lucy and Jim are active members of Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church in Montgomery.