It's bad news for consumers that Douglas Howe, just-appointed Public Regulation Commission member for District 3, won't run for election to the seat. After first announcing that he would seek the office, Howe decided instead to step away from politics and stick to policy. Consumers will lose, not because Howe would cruise to victory over more familiar politicians, but because Howe's knowledge of utilities, energy and regulation would have made the campaign more substantive.

Rather than dip his toes in political waters, though, Howe is going to concentrate on helping reform the PRC during the time he has left to serve. As he told The New Mexican's Trip Jennings, "I don't think the governor put me here to learn how to be a politician. I think she put me here to try and help make this a better institution."

For that, Gov. Susana Martinez and her team deserve credit. She appointed a supremely qualified PRC member, regardless of party. Political blogger Heath Haussamen (http://nmpolitics.net/index/) reported last week that Martinez also knew that Howe is a gay man, which has upset some of her supporters. Martinez spokesman Scott Darnell said Howe's qualifications to serve on the PRC were all that mattered. Darnell told Haussamen, "The governor received roughly 90 applications for the position and is confident she appointed the most-qualified person who will serve New Mexicans well on the PRC."

Interestingly, some in Martinez's party have become enraged on both counts. They wanted the seat -- representing liberal Santa Fe -- to go to a Republican. Further, Martinez's social-conservative supporters were upset that Howe is gay. "With a governor who looked me in the eye personally and said she's socially conservative, she believes that marriage is between one man and one woman, who said she wouldn't espouse the homosexual agenda, I think this goes against that," the Rev. Steve Smotherman, of Legacy Church in Albuquerque, told Haussamen. "... These aren't the people we voted for you to appoint. We voted for you to appoint people who think like we do." In his comments, Smotherman levied a not-so-hidden threat: Martinez will lose social conservatives such as himself if she doesn't toe the line.

There's long been talk that Martinez is a national candidate in waiting. Mitt Romney, Republican presidential front-runner, has floated her name as a vice presidential prospect. Let's see -- she went for the most qualified person over a political choice; she isn't out to ostracize gay people. ... In this climate, she'll never be a national star.

No wonder Martinez is maintaining she wants to remain in New Mexico and serve as governor. Her actions in appointing Howe -- finding the best person and letting him do his job -- are what New Mexicans like to see in their leaders. Further, we were encouraged to see the advancement of Rep. Brian Egolf's bill, which calls for appointing PRC members in the same manner as judges are selected. That bill would require selection committees, a review of qualifications, an appointment by the governor and Senate confirmation. In the meantime, we'll gladly keep Howe. As for the political candidates running for the position, we hope to see them at PRC meetings soon, learning the issues and the complicated rules, so that whoever is elected come November hits the ground running.