THE executive director of the Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council who was fired by the agency’s board may sue the government.
Tom Camacho says his termination was illegal and that it was orchestrated by the Council’s board chairman, Daniel Camacho, out of “personal vendetta.”
Tom Camacho also accused the chairman of allegedly using his position to travel overseas at taxpayers’ expense.
“The chairman has two agenda on the Council—personal vendetta and passion for travel,” Tom Camacho said.
The only thing delaying him from going to the Superior Court is the Attorney General Office’s legal opinion on the issue, he said.
He said he would wait for AGO’s opinion before he take legal action against the board.
Tom Camacho asked AGO to review the board’s decision to terminate him within a 60-day period that will end on June 8.
Chairman Camacho refused to comment on Tom Camacho’s allegations, but said the fact that “the majority of board members voted against him speaks about his performance.”
“The votes were made. The majority voted against him. He can say what he wants. The people will be the judge,” the chairman said.
The Council has 19 members. Twelve voted in favor of terminating Tom Camacho, four opposed, two abstained and one was absent.
An executive committee of the board that evaluated Tom Camacho’s performance in 2001 described it as exemplary.
“You have substantially exceeded your performance requirements. This characterized your exemplary accomplishments as the council’s executive director throughout the rating period. Your performance has considerably met above the success criteria of the job,” the evaluation results read.
Tom Camacho was also credited for securing federal financial assistance ranging from $50,000 to $1.385 million for the benefit of people with disabilities in the commonwealth.
