Governor, board push Camacho to head CUC

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board of directors are pushing for Gary P. Camacho to become CUC executive director and are trying to convince a judge to waive the educational requirement of the job so he could officially assume the post.

Camacho currently occupies the post in an acting capacity.

Torres and the CUC board asked designated judge David O. Carter of the U.S. District Court for the NMI to temporarily waive the educational degree requirements for the position of executive director so the board could consider Camacho as an eligible candidate.

Camacho, CUC’s Power Division manager, has been with CUC for over 21 years now. He has been holding the position of acting executive director since Dec. 6, 2015.

Since the executive director’s position became vacant on July 14, 2015, CUC has received and reviewed 29 applications for that position.

In his letter to Carter, Torres, citing his many years of public service, said he has never seen an executive director as “proactive, knowledgeable, or competent” as Camacho.

Torres’ letter was attached to CUC’s motion for a waiver of stipulated order 1 requirement that CUC filed on Wednesday.

Torres noted that CUC has made remarkable and positive strides after the devastation of Typhoon Soudelor in August 2015, and that much of that success “can be attributed to the conscientious and outstanding leadership” provided by Camacho.

The governor said CUC energized Saipan at remarkable pace, replaced or repaired over 750 fallen power poles, exchanged damaged transformers and strengthened the power plan, which restored power to nearly all homes and families within three months.

Torres said he instructed and continue to encourage the CUC board to satisfy all the mandates of the stipulated order as their No. 1 priority.

Torres said he understands the importance of filling the positions mandated by the stipulated order to ensure the proper management of CUC that provides thousands of households the essential services to live safe and sanitary lives and help maintain the environment.

However, he said, the critical position of executive director remains unfilled and he is extremely concerned that CUC may not be able to meet the pending deadline for hiring a qualified executive director.

Torres said he has great respect for the mandates of stipulated order 1, but that in light of the many accomplishments and signs of progress within CUC, he is requesting Carter’s consideration to temporarily modify the requirements to allow Camacho to “continue to serve the families, businesses, and residents of the CNMI.”

In his declaration also attached to CUC’s motion, Torres said that based on Camacho’s employment with CUC over the last 21-plus years, together with the experience and knowledge he has acquired working with CUC’s water, wastewater and power systems, he believes Camacho meets all the qualification requirements for the position of executive director, with the exception of the educational degree requirement.

CUC board chair Adelina C. Roberto also issued a declaration in support of CUC’s motion for waiver of requirements.

Roberto disclosed that last Dec. 28, the board discussed the possibility of Camacho being appointed as permanent executive director, despite the qualification requirements in stipulated order 1.

Roberto said after considering the contributions and accomplishments of Camacho during his tenure as acting executive director, the board approved a motion directing CUC legal counsel James Sirok to request the court for permission to allow Camacho to become the permanent executive director.

Roberto said that based on her personal knowledge of the affairs and conditions and operations of CUC under Camacho’s supervision as acting executive director, several accomplishments have been made.

Sirok said having Camacho as executive director and William Gilmore as deputy executive director provides CUC with a unique opportunity to be managed by a “tandem” executive team with a vast amount of utility power, water and wastewater experience and knowledge.