Kumar Barve, an Indian-American will be appointed to the Public Service Commission as the first Indian-American State Legislator.                               

Wes Moore, the Maryland Governor, has announced that Kumar Barve will be appointed to the Public Service Commission in Maryland. Mr. Barve holds the fame of the first Indian-American to be elected to a US state legislature in 1991. The Commission aims at regulating public utilities and critical passenger transportation companies, running businesses in Maryland.

The 64-year-old Indian-American politician is to be appointed to the Maryland Public Service Commission soon after the 2023 legislative session.  Mr. Barve has served as Chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee since 2015 and a Democratic House Majority Leader for more than a decade (2003-2015).

Governor Moore expressed his desired interest in announcing the selection of Delegate Kumar Barve to serve on the Public Service Commission. As a veteran of the Maryland House of Delegates, and with his established leadership within the Environment and Transporation Committee, Mr. Barve is an ideal candidate for the position.

The governor believes that appointing Delegate Barve will assist the former in bolstering the administration’s commitment furthermore to environmental stewardship, in addition to ensuring the protection of ratepayers. Mr. Barve has sponsored various climate change laws and in leading an established state’s effort in promoting high-tech job creation. He also holds a crucial roleplay in closing corporate tax loopholes and leading a more progressive transformation of Maryland’s tax code.

His policy accomplishments extend to economic development, tax policy, environmental regulation, energy generation and conservation, and greenhouse gas reduction. Mr. Barve holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Georgetown University and has nearly 40 years of experience in accountancy. He was awarded the League of Conservation Voters Legislator of the Year in 2017 and the India Abroad Lifetime Service Award in 2013.