Duncan to head TVA

Former Republican National Committee chairman Robert “Mike” Duncan has a new job as chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Duncan, a banker and lawyer from Inez, Kentucky, was elected to succeed outgoing chairman William Sansom, whose term atop the energy and economic development organization expires in May.

Duncan was appointed to the TVA by President Bush and will serve until May 2011. Sansom’s departure will be President Obama’s first opportunity to appoint his own member of the board of directors.

In January, Duncan pulled out of the race to head the RNC after three ballots as he saw his support erode. Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele eventually won enough votes to succeed him.

Several of the seven board members voiced protest with Duncan’s elevation, according to news reports, given his partisan past. Duncan, though, said he would not bring a partisan flavor to the non-partisan board.

— Reid Wilson