From Deseret News archives:

Huntsman drops lobbying

He backs off on private meetings to seek support for nominee

Published: Monday, April 18, 2005 10:53 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has backed down from plans to individually lobby members of the Committee of Consumer Services, the state's utility watchdog group, over a controversial nomination.

The governor had planned to meet one-on-one next week with each of the committee's six members in an effort to win support for Leslie Reberg, his choice to fill the committee's executive director post.

Some viewed the private meetings as a way to circumvent Utah's Open and Public Meetings Act, which requires government bodies to provide notice of upcoming meetings and prevents any action behind closed doors.

Tammy Kikuchi, a spokeswoman for the governor, said Huntsman decided that the committee would be better off deciding Reberg's merits without the governor's input.

"He said, 'You know, this process has been politicized enough. I don't want to look like I am trying to manipulate the committee or their decision,' " Kikuchi said.

Dee Jay Hammon, the committee's chairman, said it would have been nice to have the one-on-one meetings, but he stressed the "committee was going to do what it was going to do," adding that the meetings would not have been the "driver" in the process.

Story continues below
Also on Friday, Huntsman sent an official letter to Hammon nominating Reberg to fill the executive director position. Hammon said he had not yet seen the letter.

"I want to emphasize my great respect for the process set in motion by this nomination, and for the right of each committee member to vote as he or she deems appropriate," Huntsman said in the letter. "At the same time, I am confident Leslie is the right person to fill this position, and hope you will soon reach the same conclusion."

Reberg was chosen to replace Roger Ball, the committee's previous director, who was fired in March by Huntsman.

Reberg, a Democrat and former Salt Lake County employee, has been painted by consumer advocates as an apologist for utilities because of her past employment with US WEST.


E-mail: danderton@desnews.com

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image

Leslie Reberg

previousnext

Latest comments

Max embarrassed BYU and the LDS church. Something must be done to reign in...

Letters: Therapy for Hall

Yes, "All Knowing | 12:48 p.m.", I don't see where he's comming from. I...

Hall reprimanded by MWC

Shame on you! What Max did was dispicable, extremely selfish, and completely...

We will probably lose. Those are two of the few that play some defense....

Hall reprimanded by MWC

as an aside to all of this, some of most dire anti max hall comments that i...

Buy where you get the best price for the quality and service. It keeps...

I am a BYU fan and an alumnus of BYU but was very disappointed on the...

Letters: Left-wing AP

'Because anyone can see that it's a formula that's well worked for the gay...

You can thank God all you want for your success, however it is neither the...

Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal

Amy - Very articulate, well written opinion! As an out-of-state BYU fan, I...

Advertisements