DURING my 11 years as legal counsel to NMC’s board of regents, I had the good fortune to work closely with board chairs Vicente N. Santos, Karl Reyes, Isaac Calvo, Benet Seman, Julian Calvo and Juan L. Babauta. Each of these individuals took their positions very seriously and none of them, even though legally sophisticated in board matters, ever pretended to be the “attorney” for the board. All were exceptionally careful to ensure due process and fairness in the activities of the board of regents. None acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner.
Because of my experience with the above named people, I take it for granted that all board chairpersons should be competent, have ethics and listen to the advice of their attorneys when it comes to legal matters, especially matters concerning the employment and retention of employees and executive officers and the legal interpretations of the Constitution, laws, regulations and policies.
Daniel L. Camacho, the chairman of the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, is not in the same class with these former board of regents chairs and is probably the worst chairman of any board or commission that I’ve ever seen in the CNMI.
In his latest exploit, “Dangerous Danny” took it upon himself to “overrule” the opinion of two assistant attorneys general who advised him at the April 30 DD Council meeting that it took a two-thirds, not a majority vote, to oust Thomas J. Camacho from his executive director’s job. Chairman Camacho immediately requested an attorney general’s opinion on the issue, but before it was given, he somehow graduated from law school and ruled that Article VIII, Section 1 of the Council’s by-laws, which empowers the Council to terminate the council director, also meant that all it took was a majority vote to get rid of him. This was after legal beagle Camacho was advised that the Policies and Procedures Handbook of the Council states that it must be by a two-thirds vote.
In a letter dated May 10 and signed by the attorney general, “Legal Counsel” Camacho was formally advised that this May 9 letter terminating Tom Camacho was issued without proper authority and must be rescinded. Another attempt by the chairman to oust Tom has failed. Cruses, foiled again! We all know that Dangerous Danny will keep trying and that due process, laws, regulations and procedures are not very important to him. Executive Director Camacho must watch his back at all times.
Since it’s called the Governor’s Council, our governor must examine the shenanigans of his chairman and some other members of this Council in their shameless attempts to oust Tom Camacho without giving reasons why. This Council is turning out to be an embarrassment to the governor. On the other hand, maybe the governor wants to get rid of Tom and approves of all this illegal backstabbing. If he does, one has to wonder about his assurances of transparency and integrity in government that he so eloquently spoke of during his inaugural address.
Governor, please give this matter your immediate attention. This Council receives a lot of money from the feds for our disabled citizens and your chairman is an arbitrary, vindictive person with a grudge who is not very bright and should be stripped of his chairmanship. He makes you look bad.KENNETH L. GOVENDO
Dandan, Saipan
