Gov. Charles W. Turnbull has made no final decisions on Cabinet positions, a person close to his inner circle said Tuesday.
"Nothing's finalized," said this person, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "I believe Charles has put the names out there" — or allowed others to do so — "to get feedback. It's a political litmus test."
Reaction to many names that have surfaced, in print and privately, has been "mixed," this person said.
"But Charles hasn't called any of the people on the list yet, and until he calls you….."
People close to Turnbull expected him to announce several Cabinet-level nominations Saturday. When that didn't happen, they told people to look for them Sunday — including announcements of acting heads of some departments. But Sunday came and went with no announcements, and Monday and today have been consumed by inaugural activities.
Today is a holiday for St. Croix government employees but St. Thomas and St. John workers are supposed to be on the job. Neither Government House nor the Turnbull transition team has announced who's now in charge of various departments and agencies. Most Cabinet-level officials reportedly submitted their resignations last week.
Among those whose names have surfaced for Cabinet positions:
— Ruby Simmonds for Education commissioner. Reaction generally has been positive, including within the department.
— Clement "Cain" Magras for Tourism commissioner. Reaction has been mixed, with concern raised that he has no experience in tourism and, on St. Croix, that he might not be as sensitive to that island's needs as residents expect.
— Iver Stridiron or Arturo Watlington Jr. for attorney general. Reaction has been mixed to both.
— Keith Richards or Brian Turnbull for Planning and Natural Resources commissioner. Reaction has been negative to Richards from the business community, and mixed toward Turnbull.
— Ira Hobson for Housing, Parks and Recreation commissioner and — if Turnbull decides to consolidate departments and agencies — the Housing Finance Authority. Many people see this as a political payoff for his strong and early support of the Turnbull-James team but note that Hobson did not win accolades for his handling of the same post in the Schneider administration before he resigned in June.