Douglas Howe said Thursday he will not seek election to the state Public Regulation Commission seat Gov. Susana Martinez appointed him to in November.

Martinez named Howe, a former utility executive, college professor and energy consultant, to replace former commission member Jerome Block Jr., who resigned as part of a plea deal with state authorities. Block pleaded guilty to several felonies including embezzlement of public funds.

Howe represents District 3, which includes Santa Fe and much of northeastern New Mexico, on the elected commission that regulates utilities, insurance and other industries in the state.

Howe's announcement came on the same day that State Auditor Hector Balderas released a report finding what he said were numerous lapses by Public Regulation Commission and agency employees. But Howe said his decision not to run had nothing to do with disillusionment with the agency, which has weathered numerous scandals over the years.

"I think the commission is trying hard to turn things around," Howe told The New Mexican in an interview. "I think they are doing good things. It's really about what I have found about what it takes to be a politician. I don't know how to be a politician. I'm not one. I might be able to learn. But I need a lot more than two months to do it. I finally came to the conclusion that it is an insurmountable task. To do it all I would have to sacrifice this job. I would have to go door to door. Get a network. Hire employees to be out there for me. I don't think the governor put me here to learn how to be politician. I think she put me here to try and help make this a better institution."

A spokesman for the governor wrote in an email Thursday that she appreciated that "Commissioner Howe thoughtfully assessed his obligation to the PRC and the people he serves as he made his decision whether to stand for election. The Governor is encouraged by his work so far and she's hopeful that he can help guide real PRC reform by committing the rest of his term to his duties as a commissioner."

Howe, who has lived in Santa Fe full time since 2006, has said he has 30 years of experience in the energy industry with a focus on utilities. Regulating utilities is a major part of the Public Regulation Commission's duties.

Among other things, Howe has worked as vice president for regulatory policy at General Public Utilities Service Corp., a multinational utility company, and as a consultant to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

He also worked as a consultant to Cambridge Energy Research Associates, which, according to his résumé, is one of the world's leading research firms in the energy sector.

Contact Trip Jennings at 986-3050 or at tjennings@sfnewmexican.com.