KEVIN Watson will be the new Commonwealth Utilities Corporation executive director.
Watson, CUC’s deputy executive director, was offered the position on Thursday by the CUC board of directors.
It was CUC board member Simon Sanchez who made the motion to offer the job to Watson during a board meeting.
Board Chair Janice Tenorio, members Donald Browne, Rufo Mafnas, Rebecca White, Francisco Rabauliman and Allen Perez voted in favor of the motion.
Watson, who will assume his new position on June 1, will receive a salary of $200,000 a year, $2,000 a month for housing for one year, and $1,000 a month for a car for two years.
“It’s an honor for me and a privilege,” he said in an interview. “It is a challenge but an undertaking I’m looking forward to. We have a long way to go but I’m sure with the quality of CUC staff we have we’ll meet all our goals and objectives,” he added.
These include complying with the federal court’s stipulated orders, he said.
“We’ve made a lot of progress already and we will continue to do so,” Watson said.
He said he will prioritize water and power. “Without power we can’t move the water and we need to ensure that we have available power at an affordable price for our customers. But we also have to work hard on the quality of water. We’re here to make sure we provide affordable rates for power, water and wastewater services,” Watson added.
Watson applied for the executive director’s position after Christopher Theisen, in the first week of May, withdrew his acceptance of CUC’s offer due to contractual issues.
Watson, who has a master’s degree in public administration from California State University in Northridge, was CUC’s drinking water & wastewater division manager before becoming the deputy executive director in July 2023.
The former acting executive director, Betty Terlaje, said, “We know that Kevin met the qualifications for the position and we’re glad he is willing to step up and take the helm. I worked with him on [the] stipulated orders, and he has come a long way in resolving some of the issues.”
“Our passion is to see this utility company flourish and become better and eventually serve the community with better services and see the rates go down for our consumers — that is our vision,” Terlaje added.
Speaking on behalf of the board of directors, Tenorio said, “I’m very happy to announce that Mr. Kevin Watson has applied for the executive director’s position. The panel recommended him after Mr. Thiesen had withdrawn his acceptance. Mr. Watson…got vetted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. We interviewed him and he has accepted the position.”
According to the CUC board chair, Watson is more than qualified for the position.
“Kevin has full credentials regarding what the stipulated order…requires for an executive director. He has been on the island for almost two years. He is not new to the island. He is not new to the situation of what’s happening with CUC. He’s well-versed in regard to the stipulated requirements for both SO1 and SO2. Kevin is not coming in blind,” Tenorio said.
Tenorio said she and the other board members also commend Terlaje’s leadership.
“We really appreciate Betty…for holding the fort and doing many jobs such as the executive director’s. We also did not have a chief financial officer, so she is also filling that shoe. She is also the chief of administration. She managed to accomplish many things and comply with the stipulated orders. I believe CUC is in good standing — we are lucky to have her,” Tenorio added.
Acting Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Executive Director Betty Terlaje, right, shakes hands with Kevin Watson after the CUC board of directors unanimously offered him the executive director’s job on Thursday.
Kevin Watson, left, listens intently as the CUC board members cast their votes on the motion to hire him for the executive director’s position. Also in photo are CUC Human Resources Manager Francisco Matsunaga, and Betty Terlaje, CUC acting executive director.
