Runyon says 'protocol' prohibits meeting

The Knoxville News-Sentinel
Wednesday, November 18, 1987

Runyon says 'protocol' prohibits meeting
TVA pick won't change his mind over coalition

AMY TODD GEISEL
News-Sentinel staff writer

Marvin Runyon remained firm in his stand Tuesday not to meet with a coalition of grass-roots organizations despite that group's recent request that his nomination to the TVA board of directors be delayed until he talk with them.

Although he has met with senators in Washington, D.C., to smooth the way for his confirmation, Runyon said to speak to other groups about his views of the federal agency would be unfair to members of the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee, which will conduct the hearings.

"I guess it's protocol. If a senator wants to hear how I feel, they should hear it from me and not a third party," he said. "I don't think it is appropriate for the senators to hear my views about the agency from anyone but me."

The TVA Board Appointment Coalition, which consists of 42 environmental and citizens groups in the seven-state TVA region, would like Runyon to answer 20 questions, ranging from hydroelectric power preference for residential users to TVA's role in dealing with water quality issues.

TVA Director John B. Waters Jr. was interviewed by the group before he was appointed to the board in 1984.

Waters Tuesday declined to say why he made the decision to meet with the

questions.

Runyon, president of Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corp., was in Knoxville to speak to the Baptist Hospital Foundation executive forum on "Management and Leadership in the Coming Decade."

He told about 100 corporate executives that the most important qualities in a leader are the abilities to listen and learn; to have a vision of where you are going; and to trust the people who work for you to get the job done.

"Basically, I think a manager is someone who tells other people what to do for the good of the company, whereas a leader is someone who creates an environment that makes people want to do what's good for the company."

Runyon was tapped by President Reagan in August for the chairmanship of the TVA board, but Reagan has not yet officially nominated him for the position.

Runyon's paperwork on his financial affairs still is being processed, a White House official said. It was unclear if the delay on Runyon's paperwork indicated a problem or that other priorities in the Reagan administration were being handled prior to the TVA board nomination.

Since accepting the proposed nomination, Runyon has not talked about TVA-related issues. He has easily admitted a lack of knowledge about the agency and about the utility business — saying he doesn't follow TVA rates — but said he will bring management expertise that can be applied in any large organization.

The Nissan president also strongly objected to what he described as a letter distributed by the TVA Board Appointment Coalition that said he had recently toured TVA facilities with Waters. He said touring the facilities would be inappropriate until he is officially nominated.

Siegel described the letter Runyon was referring to as "private correspondence among coalition members and others."

With or without a meeting with Runyon, Siegel said members of the coalition — who range from the League of Women Voters to the Audubon Society — will vote whether to support, object or stay neutral about his nomination. The coalition then hopes to testify on Capitol Hill during the hearings.

Richard Powelson of The News-Sentinel Washington bureau contributed to this report.