The decision to cancel the gatherings came a day after several members of the utility watchdog group said Huntsman scheduled the one-on-one meetings specifically to get around the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act, which requires government officials to conduct the state's business openly and in full public view. If the governor had met with the entire six-member committee at once, the meeting would have had to have been open to the public.

The governor canceled the smaller meetings because he wanted to dispel any perception he was trying to manipulate the process of naming a new director for the committee, Huntsman spokeswoman Tammy Kikuchi said.

"The process has been politicized long enough," she said.

In early March, Huntsman fired the committee's director, Roger Ball, who was known for his unwavering commitment to securing the lowest possible rates for Utah's utility customers.

Huntsman immediately named former US West customer service executive and lobbyist Leslie Reberg as his choice to fill the vacant position. In naming Reberg, Huntsman was acting on the advice of his new Utah Department of Commerce director, Russell

Skousen, who also was instrumental in Ball's termination. Skousen and Reberg previously worked together in Salt Lake County government.

At the time, some Utah consumer advocates couldn't decide what offended them the most - Ball's firing or the selection as his successor of a lobbyist known for pushing what they described as an anti-consumer bill through the 2000 Legislature.

In a letter sent Friday to committee chairman Dee Jay Hammon, the governor said he is confident the committee will find Leslie Reberg "an ideal candidate."

"Leslie's professional background - including her extensive management experience in both the private and public sector - has prepared her well to serve as Utah's chief advocate for residential and small business public utility consumers," Huntsman wrote.

He added that Reberg's "tenacious personality" will make her an effective crusader on behalf of Utah consumers.

However, the only requirement state law spells out for anyone serving as the director of the committee is that they be a "qualified person in the field of public utilities."

In considering Reberg's nomination, committee members will have to weigh whether her past lobbying activities and work overseeing customer service operations at the phone company qualify her to oversee matters as wide ranging as electric deregulation, natural gas quality issues and stranded costs.

"The governor is confident committee members have all the information they need to make an informed decision," Kikuchi said.

Hammon expected the governor to use his planned private meetings to lobby on Reberg's behalf. He said the discussions may have resulted in new information or they "may have just muddied the water more."

Hammon, though, intended to ask the governor to submit several more names to the committee so it could have a choice of candidates. That may not happen if Reberg's selection is approved.

The committee has the authority to turn down or approve Huntsman's nomination for Reberg as director.

"It has been quite a roller coaster ride for us," Hammon said. "Now that we have received a formal nomination, though, the challenge will be to get everyone together so we can do our thing."

Reberg could not be reached for comment.

steve@sltrib.com