http://newmexicoindependent.com/17454/reporter-wrestles-to-get-to-the-bottom-of-the-story New Mexico news and politics Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://newmexicoindependent.com/17454/reporter-wrestles-to-get-to-the-bottom-of-the-story#comment-22634 nfarquhar Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:28:57 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=17454#comment-22634 Having been part of that story, I appreciate the opportunity to comment. The story (according to comments from many acquaintances) implies that I might have facilitated some kind of favorable treatment for Sempra Energy. Some facts as background: I had very limited contact with Sempra, the Governor didn't know that I had talked to them (for several minutes at my request at a larger 2006 meeting I was invited to by a nonprofit nonpartisan nonpolitical policy think tank in California), I had no knowledge that the Governor had received donations from Sempra and no one inside or outside the Governor's Office (or anywhere) ever told me they were donors or in any way deserved special treatment. As shown by the evidence that the reporter uncovered in a records request last year, I referred the company's request for intervention in a lawsuit to the Governor's counsel to make sure it would be appropriate (acting, at least in my view, as a responsible staffer to any elected official would), and I believe, as the Governor's Office stated in response to the reporter's inquiry, that the Governor did not follow up on Sempra's request. Sempra was only one of dozens of companies I spoke with about possible wind energy development in New Mexico from 2003-2006. Such contacts, in search of economic investment in New Mexico (particularly pursuing the Governor's genuine, strong interest in renewable energy development), occur daily. I never made a statement like Sempra would "play ball." People who know me would know I don't use that idiom, so I believe the gossip in that respect, from a single questionable source who at the time vigorously and vocally supported the Governor's renewable energy program publicly and privately and now completely disavows it as vigorously and vocally, is wrong. I do recall telling people - legislators who were interested, advocates who asked, for instance - some of the companies, including Sempra, that might have interest in New Mexico wind as a possible source of renewable energy for California in 2003 or 2004, As shown by the fact that Sempra has indicated no interest in the state's wind and transmission programs since then, the company has received no special benefits or favors. My reputation is important to me and I was disappointed that this radio story left an impression that I might have been involved in anything nefarious, secretive, or evasive. At this point the radio reporter and I have had a constructive back and forth and I believe he understands my perspective and some facts he wasn't aware of a lot better, and he has offered some sensible possibilities for clarifying the situation - the kind of followup you could expect from a non-sensationalistic public radio news room, thank goodness. People are welcome to contact me and ask questions if they have any. My email address is <a href="mailto:nfarq@comcast.net" rel="nofollow">nfarq@comcast.net</a>. Having been part of that story, I appreciate the opportunity to comment. The story (according to comments from many acquaintances) implies that I might have facilitated some kind of favorable treatment for Sempra Energy. Some facts as background: I had very limited contact with Sempra, the Governor didn't know that I had talked to them (for several minutes at my request at a larger 2006 meeting I was invited to by a nonprofit nonpartisan nonpolitical policy think tank in California), I had no knowledge that the Governor had received donations from Sempra and no one inside or outside the Governor's Office (or anywhere) ever told me they were donors or in any way deserved special treatment. As shown by the evidence that the reporter uncovered in a records request last year, I referred the company's request for intervention in a lawsuit to the Governor's counsel to make sure it would be appropriate (acting, at least in my view, as a responsible staffer to any elected official would), and I believe, as the Governor's Office stated in response to the reporter's inquiry, that the Governor did not follow up on Sempra's request. Sempra was only one of dozens of companies I spoke with about possible wind energy development in New Mexico from 2003-2006. Such contacts, in search of economic investment in New Mexico (particularly pursuing the Governor's genuine, strong interest in renewable energy development), occur daily. I never made a statement like Sempra would “play ball.” People who know me would know I don't use that idiom, so I believe the gossip in that respect, from a single questionable source who at the time vigorously and vocally supported the Governor's renewable energy program publicly and privately and now completely disavows it as vigorously and vocally, is wrong. I do recall telling people – legislators who were interested, advocates who asked, for instance – some of the companies, including Sempra, that might have interest in New Mexico wind as a possible source of renewable energy for California in 2003 or 2004, As shown by the fact that Sempra has indicated no interest in the state's wind and transmission programs since then, the company has received no special benefits or favors. My reputation is important to me and I was disappointed that this radio story left an impression that I might have been involved in anything nefarious, secretive, or evasive. At this point the radio reporter and I have had a constructive back and forth and I believe he understands my perspective and some facts he wasn't aware of a lot better, and he has offered some sensible possibilities for clarifying the situation – the kind of followup you could expect from a non-sensationalistic public radio news room, thank goodness. People are welcome to contact me and ask questions if they have any. My email address is nfarq@comcast.net.

]]> http://newmexicoindependent.com/17454/reporter-wrestles-to-get-to-the-bottom-of-the-story#comment-17675 nfarquhar Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:28:57 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=17454#comment-17675 Having been part of that story, I appreciate the opportunity to comment. The story (according to comments from many acquaintances) implies that I might have facilitated some kind of favorable treatment for Sempra Energy. Some facts as background: I had very limited contact with Sempra, the Governor didn't know that I had talked to them (for several minutes at my request at a larger 2006 meeting I was invited to by a nonprofit nonpartisan nonpolitical policy think tank in California), I had no knowledge that the Governor had received donations from Sempra and no one inside or outside the Governor's Office (or anywhere) ever told me they were donors or in any way deserved special treatment. As shown by the evidence that the reporter uncovered in a records request last year, I referred the company's request for intervention in a lawsuit to the Governor's counsel to make sure it would be appropriate (acting, at least in my view, as a responsible staffer to any elected official would), and I believe, as the Governor's Office stated in response to the reporter's inquiry, that the Governor did not follow up on Sempra's request. Sempra was only one of dozens of companies I spoke with about possible wind energy development in New Mexico from 2003-2006. Such contacts, in search of economic investment in New Mexico (particularly pursuing the Governor's genuine, strong interest in renewable energy development), occur daily. I never made a statement like Sempra would "play ball." People who know me would know I don't use that idiom, so I believe the gossip in that respect, from a single questionable source who at the time vigorously and vocally supported the Governor's renewable energy program publicly and privately and now completely disavows it as vigorously and vocally, is wrong. I do recall telling people - legislators who were interested, advocates who asked, for instance - some of the companies, including Sempra, that might have interest in New Mexico wind as a possible source of renewable energy for California in 2003 or 2004, As shown by the fact that Sempra has indicated no interest in the state's wind and transmission programs since then, the company has received no special benefits or favors. My reputation is important to me and I was disappointed that this radio story left an impression that I might have been involved in anything nefarious, secretive, or evasive. At this point the radio reporter and I have had a constructive back and forth and I believe he understands my perspective and some facts he wasn't aware of a lot better, and he has offered some sensible possibilities for clarifying the situation - the kind of followup you could expect from a non-sensationalistic public radio news room, thank goodness. People are welcome to contact me and ask questions if they have any. My email address is <a href="mailto:nfarq@comcast.net" rel="nofollow">nfarq@comcast.net</a>. Having been part of that story, I appreciate the opportunity to comment. The story (according to comments from many acquaintances) implies that I might have facilitated some kind of favorable treatment for Sempra Energy. Some facts as background: I had very limited contact with Sempra, the Governor didn't know that I had talked to them (for several minutes at my request at a larger 2006 meeting I was invited to by a nonprofit nonpartisan nonpolitical policy think tank in California), I had no knowledge that the Governor had received donations from Sempra and no one inside or outside the Governor's Office (or anywhere) ever told me they were donors or in any way deserved special treatment. As shown by the evidence that the reporter uncovered in a records request last year, I referred the company's request for intervention in a lawsuit to the Governor's counsel to make sure it would be appropriate (acting, at least in my view, as a responsible staffer to any elected official would), and I believe, as the Governor's Office stated in response to the reporter's inquiry, that the Governor did not follow up on Sempra's request. Sempra was only one of dozens of companies I spoke with about possible wind energy development in New Mexico from 2003-2006. Such contacts, in search of economic investment in New Mexico (particularly pursuing the Governor's genuine, strong interest in renewable energy development), occur daily. I never made a statement like Sempra would “play ball.” People who know me would know I don't use that idiom, so I believe the gossip in that respect, from a single questionable source who at the time vigorously and vocally supported the Governor's renewable energy program publicly and privately and now completely disavows it as vigorously and vocally, is wrong. I do recall telling people – legislators who were interested, advocates who asked, for instance – some of the companies, including Sempra, that might have interest in New Mexico wind as a possible source of renewable energy for California in 2003 or 2004, As shown by the fact that Sempra has indicated no interest in the state's wind and transmission programs since then, the company has received no special benefits or favors. My reputation is important to me and I was disappointed that this radio story left an impression that I might have been involved in anything nefarious, secretive, or evasive. At this point the radio reporter and I have had a constructive back and forth and I believe he understands my perspective and some facts he wasn't aware of a lot better, and he has offered some sensible possibilities for clarifying the situation – the kind of followup you could expect from a non-sensationalistic public radio news room, thank goodness. People are welcome to contact me and ask questions if they have any. My email address is nfarq@comcast.net.

]]> http://newmexicoindependent.com/17454/reporter-wrestles-to-get-to-the-bottom-of-the-story#comment-10005 nfarquhar Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:28:57 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=17454#comment-10005 Having been part of that story, I appreciate the opportunity to comment. The story (according to comments from many acquaintances) implies that I might have facilitated some kind of favorable treatment for Sempra Energy. Some facts as background: I had very limited contact with Sempra, the Governor didn't know that I had talked to them (for several minutes at my request at a larger 2006 meeting I was invited to by a nonprofit nonpartisan nonpolitical policy think tank in California), I had no knowledge that the Governor had received donations from Sempra and no one inside or outside the Governor's Office (or anywhere) ever told me they were donors or in any way deserved special treatment. As shown by the evidence that the reporter uncovered in a records request last year, I referred the company's request for intervention in a lawsuit to the Governor's counsel to make sure it would be appropriate (acting, at least in my view, as a responsible staffer to any elected official would), and I believe, as the Governor's Office stated in response to the reporter's inquiry, that the Governor did not follow up on Sempra's request. Sempra was only one of dozens of companies I spoke with about possible wind energy development in New Mexico from 2003-2006. Such contacts, in search of economic investment in New Mexico (particularly pursuing the Governor's genuine, strong interest in renewable energy development), occur daily. I never made a statement like Sempra would "play ball." People who know me would know I don't use that idiom, so I believe the gossip in that respect, from a single questionable source who at the time vigorously and vocally supported the Governor's renewable energy program publicly and privately and now completely disavows it as vigorously and vocally, is wrong. I do recall telling people - legislators who were interested, advocates who asked, for instance - some of the companies, including Sempra, that might have interest in New Mexico wind as a possible source of renewable energy for California in 2003 or 2004, As shown by the fact that Sempra has indicated no interest in the state's wind and transmission programs since then, the company has received no special benefits or favors. My reputation is important to me and I was disappointed that this radio story left an impression that I might have been involved in anything nefarious, secretive, or evasive. At this point the radio reporter and I have had a constructive back and forth and I believe he understands my perspective and some facts he wasn't aware of a lot better, and he has offered some sensible possibilities for clarifying the situation - the kind of followup you could expect from a non-sensationalistic public radio news room, thank goodness. People are welcome to contact me and ask questions if they have any. My email address is <a href="mailto:nfarq@comcast.net" rel="nofollow">nfarq@comcast.net</a>. Having been part of that story, I appreciate the opportunity to comment. The story (according to comments from many acquaintances) implies that I might have facilitated some kind of favorable treatment for Sempra Energy. Some facts as background: I had very limited contact with Sempra, the Governor didn't know that I had talked to them (for several minutes at my request at a larger 2006 meeting I was invited to by a nonprofit nonpartisan nonpolitical policy think tank in California), I had no knowledge that the Governor had received donations from Sempra and no one inside or outside the Governor's Office (or anywhere) ever told me they were donors or in any way deserved special treatment. As shown by the evidence that the reporter uncovered in a records request last year, I referred the company's request for intervention in a lawsuit to the Governor's counsel to make sure it would be appropriate (acting, at least in my view, as a responsible staffer to any elected official would), and I believe, as the Governor's Office stated in response to the reporter's inquiry, that the Governor did not follow up on Sempra's request. Sempra was only one of dozens of companies I spoke with about possible wind energy development in New Mexico from 2003-2006. Such contacts, in search of economic investment in New Mexico (particularly pursuing the Governor's genuine, strong interest in renewable energy development), occur daily. I never made a statement like Sempra would “play ball.” People who know me would know I don't use that idiom, so I believe the gossip in that respect, from a single questionable source who at the time vigorously and vocally supported the Governor's renewable energy program publicly and privately and now completely disavows it as vigorously and vocally, is wrong. I do recall telling people – legislators who were interested, advocates who asked, for instance – some of the companies, including Sempra, that might have interest in New Mexico wind as a possible source of renewable energy for California in 2003 or 2004, As shown by the fact that Sempra has indicated no interest in the state's wind and transmission programs since then, the company has received no special benefits or favors. My reputation is important to me and I was disappointed that this radio story left an impression that I might have been involved in anything nefarious, secretive, or evasive. At this point the radio reporter and I have had a constructive back and forth and I believe he understands my perspective and some facts he wasn't aware of a lot better, and he has offered some sensible possibilities for clarifying the situation – the kind of followup you could expect from a non-sensationalistic public radio news room, thank goodness. People are welcome to contact me and ask questions if they have any. My email address is nfarq@comcast.net.

]]> http://newmexicoindependent.com/17454/reporter-wrestles-to-get-to-the-bottom-of-the-story#comment-3766 nfarquhar Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:28:57 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=17454#comment-3766 Having been part of that story, I appreciate the opportunity to comment. The story (according to comments from many acquaintances) implies that I might have facilitated some kind of favorable treatment for Sempra Energy. Some facts as background: I had very limited contact with Sempra, the Governor didn't know that I had talked to them (for several minutes at my request at a larger 2006 meeting I was invited to by a nonprofit nonpartisan nonpolitical policy think tank in California), I had no knowledge that the Governor had received donations from Sempra and no one inside or outside the Governor's Office (or anywhere) ever told me they were donors or in any way deserved special treatment. As shown by the evidence that the reporter uncovered in a records request last year, I referred the company's request for intervention in a lawsuit to the Governor's counsel to make sure it would be appropriate (acting, at least in my view, as a responsible staffer to any elected official would), and I believe, as the Governor's Office stated in response to the reporter's inquiry, that the Governor did not follow up on Sempra's request. Sempra was only one of dozens of companies I spoke with about possible wind energy development in New Mexico from 2003-2006. Such contacts, in search of economic investment in New Mexico (particularly pursuing the Governor's genuine, strong interest in renewable energy development), occur daily. I never made a statement like Sempra would "play ball." People who know me would know I don't use that idiom, so I believe the gossip in that respect, from a single questionable source who at the time vigorously and vocally supported the Governor's renewable energy program publicly and privately and now completely disavows it as vigorously and vocally, is wrong. I do recall telling people - legislators who were interested, advocates who asked, for instance - some of the companies, including Sempra, that might have interest in New Mexico wind as a possible source of renewable energy for California in 2003 or 2004, As shown by the fact that Sempra has indicated no interest in the state's wind and transmission programs since then, the company has received no special benefits or favors. My reputation is important to me and I was disappointed that this radio story left an impression that I might have been involved in anything nefarious, secretive, or evasive. At this point the radio reporter and I have had a constructive back and forth and I believe he understands my perspective and some facts he wasn't aware of a lot better, and he has offered some sensible possibilities for clarifying the situation - the kind of followup you could expect from a non-sensationalistic public radio news room, thank goodness. People are welcome to contact me and ask questions if they have any. My email address is <a href="mailto:nfarq@comcast.net" rel="nofollow">nfarq@comcast.net</a>. Having been part of that story, I appreciate the opportunity to comment. The story (according to comments from many acquaintances) implies that I might have facilitated some kind of favorable treatment for Sempra Energy. Some facts as background: I had very limited contact with Sempra, the Governor didn't know that I had talked to them (for several minutes at my request at a larger 2006 meeting I was invited to by a nonprofit nonpartisan nonpolitical policy think tank in California), I had no knowledge that the Governor had received donations from Sempra and no one inside or outside the Governor's Office (or anywhere) ever told me they were donors or in any way deserved special treatment. As shown by the evidence that the reporter uncovered in a records request last year, I referred the company's request for intervention in a lawsuit to the Governor's counsel to make sure it would be appropriate (acting, at least in my view, as a responsible staffer to any elected official would), and I believe, as the Governor's Office stated in response to the reporter's inquiry, that the Governor did not follow up on Sempra's request. Sempra was only one of dozens of companies I spoke with about possible wind energy development in New Mexico from 2003-2006. Such contacts, in search of economic investment in New Mexico (particularly pursuing the Governor's genuine, strong interest in renewable energy development), occur daily. I never made a statement like Sempra would “play ball.” People who know me would know I don't use that idiom, so I believe the gossip in that respect, from a single questionable source who at the time vigorously and vocally supported the Governor's renewable energy program publicly and privately and now completely disavows it as vigorously and vocally, is wrong. I do recall telling people – legislators who were interested, advocates who asked, for instance – some of the companies, including Sempra, that might have interest in New Mexico wind as a possible source of renewable energy for California in 2003 or 2004, As shown by the fact that Sempra has indicated no interest in the state's wind and transmission programs since then, the company has received no special benefits or favors. My reputation is important to me and I was disappointed that this radio story left an impression that I might have been involved in anything nefarious, secretive, or evasive. At this point the radio reporter and I have had a constructive back and forth and I believe he understands my perspective and some facts he wasn't aware of a lot better, and he has offered some sensible possibilities for clarifying the situation – the kind of followup you could expect from a non-sensationalistic public radio news room, thank goodness. People are welcome to contact me and ask questions if they have any. My email address is nfarq@comcast.net.

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