Appointment and resignation from CPA

I wish to clarify the situation surrounding my appointment and subsequent resignation as the Acting Executive Director for the Commonwealth Ports Authority (CPA).

When I responded to the governor’s request to fill a critically needed position at the CPA, I felt that I could actually become part of the solution for some of the grave challenges facing the CNMI, and that I could contribute to the public good by sharing the experience I have gained from running my own business for nearly 23 years.

The CNMI is my home, and many times I have written letters to the editor on concerns that I believed were shared by the public and that required the attention of our government.

I was aware of the requirements of full disclosure regarding anything that could be considered a conflict of interest. I immediately during my first meeting brought to the governor and the legal counsel’s attention the projects that EFC Engineers & Architects Corp. worked on for the port authority, and that all except for one in the final closing stages.

That final project is at the Tinian International Airport, and under the terms of the contract is to be completed by Sept. 28, 2008.

The governor announced on Aug. 22 that he appointed me to be Acting Executive Director of CPA effective Aug. 21. I unfortunately assumed that since the appointment was made that all matters had been thoroughly investigated and settled including the questions that I had raised prior to the appointment. Clearly I was mistaken.

Despite the appointment, I have not signed any contract with the Commonwealth Ports Authority. I have also not accepted any compensation, nor do I intend to. I do not know where the $170,000 salary quoted in the media came from. My early meetings with the governor and the CPA Board of Directors did not include discussions of me potentially receiving a salary that would exceed the cap established by law for agency and department heads. These discussions took place in the context of my background as a licensed professional engineer, the fact that existing law allows for over the cap salaries for professional engineers, and the possibility that part of my salary might be federally funded if I were to provide engineering services to CPA that would be in addition to the responsibilities I would be assuming as Executive Director. There was, however, never any agreement between the CPA Board of Directors and myself in terms of compensation.

My interest in the position of Executive Director for CPA was based on my sincere desire to help CPA and the community. It was never my intention to seek any personal advantages from the public office to which I had been appointed. I deeply regret the controversy that my appointment has created for CPA, the community, my business, and my family.

I have, as of Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, submitted my resignation to the Board of the Commonwealth Ports Authority and the governor, effective immediately.