Associated Press - February 8, 2010 5:25 PM ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has promoted a veteran staff member at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to 1 of the agency's appointed commissioners.

Strickland named Steven Lesser to a commissioners' post Monday for a 5-year term beginning in April.

The 57-year-old Lesser of Bexley in suburban Columbus is currently chief of staff at the PUCO and has been an employee of the agency in different capacities for 30 years.

The PUCO regulates natural gas, electric, phone, truck, rail, waste and waste water companies in the state.

Lesser will earn $120,000 a year. He replaces outgoing commissioner Ronda Hartman Fergus.

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