Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has rejected all four finalists who were competing for the position of executive director of the Utah Committee of Consumer Services.

The four were Sue Ashdown, former vice president of Xmission, an Internet service provider; Tim Funk, housing project director for Crossroads Urban Center; John Gothard, a utility analyst with the Utah Division of Public Utilities; and Reed Warnick, interim director and attorney for the consumer committee.

A six-member search committee recommended the final four names following a national search that generated 34 applications. Each member of the search committee ranked the four candidates. Warnick received the No. 1 recommendation from four of the search committee members. Ashdown received the nod of two members.

The executive director position has been vacant since March, when Leslie Reberg announced her decision to leave the job to run for Salt Lake County recorder.

The governor's decision came after Claire Geddes, a member of the search committee, said she would launch a public campaign opposing Warnick if he was appointed by the governor. In 2005, Geddes vigorously fought the appointment of Reberg, a former US WEST lobbyist.

Warnick said he requested that his name be withdrawn from consideration after learning Friday that the governor wanted to review more candidates for the position.

"At the very least that told me that I wasn't the man he was looking for," Warnick said. "I'm disappointed. I think it's been a hardship on the committee to continue to function in this uncertainty."

Dee Jay Hammon, consumer committee chairman and a member of the search committee, said a new search will be started that could last several months.

Hammon, who backed Warnick for the position, said he was disappointed that the governor did not offer a name.

"If it was up to me, Reed would have been the director," Hammon said. "I want someone who has the knowledge, technical competence and regulatory experience. He has it."

Francine Giani, executive director of the Utah Department of Commerce and chairwoman of the search committee, said the new search will be modified to include people with a background in "consumer advocacy."

"We're just not quite there yet," said Giani, who added that the six-member search committee will remain in place.

Under state law, the governor must appoint the consumer committee director. Then, the six-member consumer committee must confirm the appointment by a majority vote.

The six-member committee was created by the Utah Legislature in 1977 and is charged with protecting the interests of consumers and small businesses in utility rate cases.

Warnick will remain the committee's interim director until a successor is confirmed. After that, Warnick will return to his attorney duties for the committee.

"In one sense, I'm relieved," Warnick said. "During the time that I've been interim director I've learned that it really is a tasking job to try to meet everybody's expectations. It's a divisive environment out there as far as the committee's role is concerned."

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