As the state House of Representatives continues to look into the possibility of impeaching Jerome Block Jr., the embattled state Public Regulation Commission member apparently is reconsidering calls for him to voluntarily resign.

Block, who also has been under criminal investigation by the state attorney general since before he took office, told The Santa Fe Reporter that the allegations and controversies have been hard on his family and his health.

"Believe me, I believe if this storm is weathered, it'll be something else next week," he told a reporter for the weekly newspaper.

"I'm looking forward to being whole again, and if it takes a resignation from me to get some piece [sic] of mind, then that might be something I need to look into the next few weeks," Block said. A transcript of the conversation was published on the Reporter's blog.

Block did not return phone calls from The New Mexican on Thursday. He wasn't at his Santa Fe office any of the three times members of the newspaper's staff looked for him.

Block, whose district includes Santa Fe, was not physically present during a commission meeting Thursday, though he did attend by phone for at least part of the meeting. One commission employee said Block came by the office for a few minutes Thursday to pick up his paycheck.

Members of the elected regulatory body are paid about $90,000 a year, which, before taxes and other deductions, comes to about $1,730 a week.

In his short interview with The Reporter, Block continued to deny any wrongdoing despite allegations that he misused a state gasoline-purchase card as well as drove a state vehicle after his driver's license was suspended.

Block has so far rejected bipartisan calls for him to step down, including from fellow members of the commission.

But Block said he was concerned about the expense of the impeachment investigation. The Legislature has set aside $1 million for possible impeachment expenses. The impeachment subcommittee last week agreed to pay former federal prosecutor Robert Gorence $200 an hour to gather and organize evidence in the case.

"I'm hoping it doesn't take too long and I do feel for the taxpayers who have to foot that bill," Block told The Reporter. "That will weigh in my decision whether I stay or not. Because I don't feel it's up to the taxpayers to have to pay for allegations to be answered. If there were charges, if there were an indictment, I'd step down immediately."

However, Block didn't resign in 2009 after he was indicted on criminal charges related to alleged misuse of public funds in his 2008 campaign. That case is still pending in state District Court.

Block, who has failed to attend a number of commission meetings, last month acknowledged an addiction to oxycodone, a strong narcotic pain-reliever and cough suppressant.

The District 3 seat on the commission will be on next year's election ballot. He hasn't said whether he would seek another term. Several Democrats have announced they will run for the seat.

Update: 9-24-11 The notation "[sic]" after the phrase "piece of mind" was omitted from the earlier web version of this story. (It was in the print version.) "[sic]" indicates a word or phrase was quoted exactly as it appears in the original source. In this case, the correct word would have been "peace."

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com. Read his political blog at roundhouseroundup.com