It’s not often that the legislature stands up to Gov. Jared Polis — in fact, it’s usually the other way around — but that has happened in the case of his nominee to a critical state board.
Polis, a first-term Democrat, announced Friday that he no longer plans to nominate Susan Perkins of Greenwood Village to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), which regulates more than 100 industries in Colorado, including energy and telecommunications. Instead, he will nominate Megan Gilman of Edwards for the seat.
His nomination of Perkins had been held up for weeks because Senate President Leroy Garcia, a Pueblo Democrat, opposes the nomination and refused to bring it to the floor. Garcia is intensely loyal to Pueblo, and his concern, he has said, is that Perkins has worked so closely on Pueblo energy issues that she would have to recuse herself from PUC cases that affect the city. Nonpartisan state legal analysts backed him up in a brief in January.
As recently as a week ago, Polis’ office disagreed with those concerns, and the governor sounded determined to seat Perkins on the PUC. He did say, however, that he would reconsider if it became necessary.
And so he has.
Gilman is a mechanical engineer by training, and she has served as the chair of the board of directors of Holy Cross Energy, according to a spokesperson for the governor, who added that she has stepped down from that role now that she has been nominated to the PUC.
Garcia welcomed Polis’ decision Friday.
“I want to thank the Governor for listening to our concerns and working to find a nominee that can be an effective PUC member and who will put consumers’ needs first,” he said in a statement. “As the confirmation process moves forward the Senate will continue to do our due diligence with this appointment and every appointment the governor sends to our chamber.”
If and when Gilman is confirmed by the Senate, she will take over for PUC Commissioner Frances Koncilja, a Pueblo native with close ties to Garcia.
In a press release, Polis thanked Perkins and said, “We are excited to nominate Megan for this position. Her experience and expertise will make her a great addition to the Commission. The PUC plays a critically important role in the lives of so many Coloradans and I believe Megan’s vision and focus saving ratepayers money and making renewable energy work is a positive step for Colorado.”