The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry’s (LABI) political action committee for the northern region, NORTHPAC, endorsed Keith Gates in the Public Service Commissioner (PSC) District 5 race.

Gates, the current City Prosecutor in Winnfield, La. and former Louisiana Supreme Court clerk, is challenging longtime PSC Foster Campbell. NORTHPAC Chairman Mike Wolff said Gates shares the “values and the philosophy of the business community.”

“For as long as I can remember, LABI has been on the forefront, working with local officials, store owners, and citizens to strengthen our economy,” said Gates in a news release. “Therefore, it is an honor to have LABI’s NORTHPAC endorsement in my bid to become the next Public Service Commissioner. As a lifelong conservative and small business owner, I pledge to fight on behalf of our families and small business owners for lower rates, better service, and less regulations so that our area can thrive for generations to come.”

Campbell, whom Gates is challenging, has come under fire in the past for calling an investigation into whether electric companies were making too much money. At the time, Campbell said he wanted to “reducing the rate of return utilities earn on the funds invested by shareholders, possibly by as much as 25 percent.”

Also, Campbell has been a fierce critic of utility and service companies such as Entergy and AT&T. But, Campbell has been known to take loads of money for his campaign from some of these same companies.

And then, back in January of 2013, Campbell was ousted quickly, less than a year exactly, as the PSC Chairman. The board of commissioners replaced Campbell with Republican Eric Skrmetta.

Skrmetta also got an endorsement from LABI. The business organization’s SOUTHPAC, which focuses on the southern region of the state, endorsed Skrmetta for the PSC District 1 race.