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Enron Mail |
Rick Richard sent an Email to you of 1/5/0l recommending support of Daryl
Owen and Don Santa for positions with the Department of Energy. Steve Kean asked that we give you background on these candidates, and Joe Hartsoe and Cynthia Sandherr significantly contributed to this response. In sum, Don Santa is an excellent candidate for the DOE and has a well established record supporting competition in the gas and electric industries. Daryl Owen, while a strong candidate, has a less established record on competition. Daryl Owen, Principal at Hooper Owen and Winburn seeks the position of Deputy Secretary at DOE. He is a Democrat from Louisiana who is a family friend of Rick Richard's. He formerly served as an Energy Legislative Assistant and Administrative Assistant to Senator J. Bennett Johnston (D-LA) from 1981-86; and Staff Director, Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources from 1986-1990. He has been with first Hooper, Hooper and Owen and now Hoper Owen and Winburn since he left the Hill. His partner, Lindsay Hooper, was former Tax Legislative Assistant and Legislative Director to Senator Malcolm Wallop (R-WY), 1980-1984. Other partners include former Congressman Charlie Wilson (D-TX). Daryl's current clients include Duke Energy, Entergy Corp., Entergy Services, Inc., Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute, TECO Energy, United Pan Europe and Waste Control Specialists, Inc.. The firm's energy clients include Coastal Corp and the ANR Pipeline. One potential confirmation concern could track the problem his former partner, Nancy Dorn, encountered after Speaker Hastert announced his intent to hire her to work for him. Specifically, there was negative Washington Post front page press coverage concerning the work the firm does for the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Coastal, and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Specifically, Pakistan is an issue due to its nuclear proliferation. Further, you may recall, other former Coastal employees had difficulties clearing the confirmation process in the Clinton Administration due to the company's Libya Sanctions violations. On the political side, Secretary Designate Abraham has quietly told his former chief of staff that he needs a Deputy strong on nuclear defense issues. Further, unless the Bush-Cheney team tells him differently, he would prefer to not have a Democrat in the Deputy slot. Spence Abraham is meeting with the Bush-Cheney folks on Thursday, January 11th to discuss who has selection rights. Until then, no decisions will be forthcoming. Daryl knows much about the oil and gas industry. As expected, he had strong ties to the producer community as a Capitol Hill staffer. However, he has not been particularly active in the electricity restructuring debate on behalf of his clients. Donald (Don) F. Santa, Jr., Senior Vice President for Strategic Planning for LG&E Corp. (1997-2001) seeks the position of FERC Chairman or a senior position at DOE. He formerly served as Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel at LG&E Energy where he managed its public policy group and the legal matters for its energy marketing business. Prior to that, he served four years as a FERC Commissioner (1993-1997) with and appointment as an Independent. During his tenure, the Commissioner adopted several pro-competition Orders, including Nos. 636 and 888. He also formerly served as Counsel to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (1989-1993) for Senator J. Bennett Johnston (D-LA). Prior to that, Don was an associate attorney with Van Ness, Feldman, Sutcliffe & Curtis (1985-1989.) Don served as the Chairman of the Electric Power Supply Association's (EPSA's) Regulatory Affairs Committee where he strongly advocated the same positions as Enron on electric industry restructuring issues. It is rumored that Texas PUC Chairman Pat Wood now wants FERC Chair since Colin Powell's son appears a certainty for FCC Chairman. If this is the case, Don would be an excellent DOE candidate. Finally, although Spence Abraham is expected to be confirmed after his hearing on January 18th, Democrats on the Committee intend to speak against him for his prior support of legislation to close the Department of Energy. As such, his confirmation is not a "sure thing." Don would likely not be present the Transition Team with vetting irregularities and poses no apparent confirmation concerns. Cynthia has heard from some close to him that he might not be interested in an Administration job because it requires a major salary reduction. Don is a native of Connecticut who received his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law and his B.A. from Duke University.
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