I take great umbrage at your printing of Mr. Kearney’s oped on your news site, at least with respect to his irresponsible insinuations with respect to my personal character and integrity. He has his facts and argument wrong. Firstly I never denied that Mr. Thayer of Entergy attended my Christmas Party, as was an official from Green Mountain Power, a Vermont State Representative, and employees of the Joint Fiscal Office and the Department of Education. Imagine that diverse group all getting together during the holidays to enjoy each others’ company, chatting about current events, family and popular culture!
People should be given the benefit of the doubt when it comes to integrity.
In hindsight I regret being forthcoming about my personal holiday party, I should have answered that it was no one’s business who visits my home. Ever since this matter was first raised I feel as though my personal space has been invaded. But I do believe in sunshine, being open and honest and certainly having nothing to hide. I also believe that people should be given the benefit of the doubt when it comes to integrity. It should not be assumed that because a utility executive visits my home or we see each other in a social setting, that I or they will have some sort of bias or not ultimately act in accordance with our respective professional responsibility. I remain curious why Mr. Kearney and others do not address all the other interactions in Vermont between government and private business, at political fundraisers for all political parties, or lobbying firms hosting receptions for legislators during the legislative session while critical bills are under consideration, to name two prominent examples.
In the case of my interactions with Mr. Thayer and Entergy the inaccurate disclosure by Entergy was brought to light by the Department of Public Service and I made it very clear that there needed to be accountability on the part of Entergy personnel. I did so knowing that someone like Mr. Thayer and other employees of Entergy whom I have gotten to know over the years would be likely candidates for discipline by their employer. As many now know Mr. Thayer was one of a group of five Entergy employees who were suspended. The personal toll for these individuals is very real indeed, but the stakes here are clear and the need for public accountability vital.
Isn’t ironic that Mr. Kearney cites the tremendous financial problems for the City of Burlington as a result of the Burlington Telecom failure? I think the record is very clear that as Commissioner I called attention to the very serious nature of the problems at BT and within City government last fall. I believe if people stop and apply common sense judgment we can all recognize that business and personal lives intertwine, conflicts arise, but what matters most that in our jobs, private or public, we stay true to the mandates of our vocation. Perhaps I and other public officials and private industry leaders can be fair, objective and vigilant amidst whatever personal interactions we may have in this small, but marvelous state.
