ATLANTA - With six precincts still out, underdog Republican Angela Speir was leading Democratic incumbent Lauren ``Bubba'' McDonald for a seat on the Public Service Commission. <br>
<br>
With 99 percent of the votes counted Wednesday, Speir had 906,203 votes, or 48 percent, compared to 896,184, or 47 percent, for McDonald. Libertarian James Harris received 103,709 votes, or five percent. <br>
<br>
The 35-year-old Speir of Duluth, an independent employment recruiter, was making her first run at an elected office. <br>
<br>
The 63-year-od McDonald of Cumming, a legislator for 20 years, was appointed to the PSC by then-Governor Zell Miller in 1998. <br>
<br>
The PSC oversees utilities that sell natural gas, electricity and telephone services across the state. Commissioners, who make $106,031 a year and oversee a $9.5 million annual budget, are responsible for setting rules and rates that show up in consumers' monthly bills.
