Karen A. Smith, Ehrlich's director of intergovernmental relations, was nominated to the commission last month along with Del. Charles R. Boutin (R-Dist. 34) of Aberdeen. Smith is the governor's liaison to the counties and municipalities.

Smith's nomination has been met with stiff opposition from top Democratic senators -- including President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach -- who question her qualifications, her knowledge of the complexities of electricity deregulation and whether she will be an advocate for consumers.

"She's an Ehrlich loyalist and the governor is obviously trying to reward her with this plum position," Miller said. "There wouldn't be such a problem with this 10 years, six years or four years ago, but utility costs are skyrocketing and the public needs an advocate at the PSC."

Senate Judicial Proceedings Chairman Brian E. Frosh (D-Dist. 16) of Bethesda delayed a vote on Smith's nomination Monday and said he is not convinced that she will have the support she needs for confirmation.

"If I had to do it today, I'm not sure which way I would vote," he said, questioning Smith's qualifications and whether she will stand up against rate increases. "There is growing concern about her nomination. She has a lot of persuading to do."

Ehrlichs Appointments Secretary Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. dismissed Frosh's objections as a "smokescreen," saying that the Senate is "playing games."

"There are no qualification problems," he said, noting that Smith is a lawyer and former deputy attorney general. "She couldn't be more qualified."

Hogan said he has been assured that the Senate would move forward on the confirmation next week.

Frosh and other senators were not so sure. Frosh said he plans to meet with Smith before the Senate Executive Nomination Committee meets Monday to discuss his concerns.

Another senator has objected to what he sees as Smith's overtly political role.

Sen. Roy P. Dyson (D-Dist. 29) of Great Mills called Smith "incredibly partisan and not qualified" for the PSC, adding that he is talking to other senators about putting a permanent hold on the nomination.

Dyson said the partisanship with Smith stems from her close work throughout the first three years of Ehrlich's term with St. Mary's County Commissioners' President Thomas F. McKay (R), Dyson's likely challenger in 2006.

Dyson said one of his first encounters with Smith was when she organized a news conference in Hughesville for Ehrlich (R). She wrote names on pieces of tape and stuck them on the ground to make sure that only the governor's allies could be in the photo op.

"That really set the tone for me," Dyson said. "There's an old saying, 'You reap what you sow.'"

The Senate has rejected only one Ehrlich nominee: Lynn Y. Buhl as environment secretary.

The nomination of acting Health Secretary S. Anthony McCann was held up for several weeks by Senate Finance Chairman Thomas McLain Middleton (D-Dist. 28) of Waldorf, but the Senate is set to confirm his nomination today.