Politics & Government
Holcomb Appoints David Veleta To Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
He served as a senior administrative law judge with the commission for 13 years.
By Whitney Downard, Indiana Capital Chronicle
September 15, 2022
Gov. Eric Holcomb appointed David E. Veleta to fill a vacancy on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) left by the resignation of David Ober on June 21, 2022. Veleta’s term will end January 31, 2024.
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“David is well-respected in the utility industry, by the IURC Commissioners and staff members,” said Holcomb in a release. “He has a solid understanding of the complex industry as it relates to assessing affordability and exploring current and future generation. He will be an asset to Indiana’s utility regulation.”
The six-member nominating committee accepts applications from the public whenever the IURC has a vacancy. The four legislative members and three gubernatorial appointments screen the applications and conduct public interviews. Following the interviews, the committee advances three candidates.
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The nominating committee to fill Ober’s vacancy unanimously announced its picks last month, narrowing the pool of candidates for Holcomb’s consideration. Holcomb announced his selection Wednesday.
The IURC Nominating Committee includes: Chair Carol Stephan, Bill Champion, Michael Leppert, Jonathan Mayes, Carolene Mays and Jim Merritt.
Seven men originally applied for the job, but two — former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, a Republican, and economist-entrepreneur Jonathan Lamb — withdrew. The committee interviewed those who remained in late July.
Veleta, a senior administrative law judge with the commission for 13 years, previously served as a deputy prosecutor in Marion County. Prior to that, he worked in private practice.
A Johnson County resident, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Franklin College and his law degree from the University of Dayton School of Law.
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