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.

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