State Rep. Jeremy Oden, R-Eva, announced Friday he will give up his House District 11 seat to accept an appointment from Gov. Robert Bentley to the Alabama Public Service Commission. He will fill the associate commissioner’s position, which was created when Twinkle Cavanaugh was elected president of the commission in the November General Election.

Oden resigned his house seat Mon., Dec. 3, immediately prior to being sworn in as a PSC associate commissioner.

“The experience of serving the people of District 11 for the past 14 years has been life changing,” Oden stated. “They are great people and have supported me as I did my best to represent them in Montgomery. “Great thanks are due to Gov. Bentley for his confidence in me. My foremost duty will be the protection of all Alabamians as I look out for their interests on the Public Service Commission.”

“I look forward to working with Gov. (Robert) Bentley, President (Twinkle Andress) Cavanaugh and Associate Commissioner (Terry) Dunn to keep the Public Service Commission strong for the people of Alabama. The Legislature created the PSC to give Alabamians a watchdog with a noble purpose – ensuring access to reliable, affordable energy for all Alabamians. As commissioner, I intend to do just that.

“I will do everything I can to support Gov. Bentley’s mission to put Alabamians back to work,” he continued. “Our state’s low-cost energy assists in job recruitment, and I think the PSC can and should be a major part of initiatives to create jobs.”

As District 11 representative, Oden represented portions of Morgan, Cullman and Blount counties. He was first elected in 1998 and has served on the Education Trust Fund Committee and the Energy Council.

He has been active in Republican politics for many years and was instrumental in the founding of the Brindlee Mountain Republican Club. He received the Second Amendment Guardian Award from the Republican Caucus for the defense of gun ownership rights and was recognized by his fellow House members and the House’s Outstanding Member in 2006.

Oden has worked in a variety of capacities since 2004 at Eva Bank, most recently as vice president-marketing and pubic relations.

He currently owns and operates Oden Farms, a working farm in the Eva area. An ordained minister, he has served in North Alabama Churches for nearly 20 years with Abundant Grace Church in Cullman.

He is married to the former Samantha Nelson and they have one daughter, Anika.

The Odens have a residence in Montgomery but plan to maintain their legal residence in Eva.