This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, March 1, 2013 - Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has named St. Louis lawyer Robert Kenney as the new chairman of the Missouri Public Service Commission.
Kenney, who already sits on the commission, replaces outcoming Chairman Kevin Gunn, a St. Louis area lawyer who is leaving the board, effective Friday. Nixon has yet to name Gunn’s replacement, who must be confirmed by the state Senate. Kenney’s ascension to chairman requires no legislative action.
“As a long-time advocate on behalf of Missouri consumers, Robert Kenney is committed to protecting Missourians’ hard earned dollars,” Nixon said. “Chairman Kenney’s leadership and expertise will serve him well in this new role.”
Before joining the commission in late 2009 (he was confirmed in 2010), Kenney served as chief of staff to Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, a Democrat, and was an assistant attorney general in the office’s Consumer Protection Division.
Kenney also had been a partner at the St. Louis law firm Polsinelli Shalton Flanigan Suelthaus PC (now Polsinelli Shughart), where he practiced in the product liability practice group.
Kenney is no relation to former state Sen. Bill Kenney, R-Lee’s Summit, who was named to the commission in January by Nixon. Bill Kenney had been chief of staff to Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, a Republican.
The five-member Missouri Public Service Commission “regulates investor-owned electric, steam, natural gas, water and sewer and telephone companies.” It also regulates the manufacture rsand retail dealers who sell new and used manufactured homes and modular units. The commission was established in 1913.
