St. Croix insurance agency owner and business community activist Frandelle Gerard is Gov. Charles Turnbull's choice for executive director of the Industrial Development Commission, according to The V.I. Daily News.
As an incentive to attract new industrial and commercial development in the territory, the IDC has the power to waive some or virtually all business taxes to companies setting up in the territory and to extend the exemptions for additional periods. The commission has not had a permanent director for more than a year.
The Legislature rejected former Gov. Roy Schneider's nominee, Louis Paiewonsky III.
Meantime, the Senate Rules Committee is expected to begin hearings on Turnbull's previously announced cabinet choices as soon as the nominees return questionnaires covering such matters as whether the individuals have criminal records or are delinquent in paying their taxes.
Turnbull has sent the nominations to the Legislature for confirmation, the Daily News reported.
His commissioner nominees, all currently on the job in a "designee" capacity, are Clement "Cain" Magras, Tourism; Bernice Turnbull, Finance; Ruby Simmonds, Education; Harold Thompson Jr., Public Works; Dean Plaskette, Planning and Natural Resources; Andrew Rutnik, Licensing and Consumer Affairs; Wilbur Callender, Health; Marc Biggs, Property and Procurement; Ira Hobson, Housing, Parks and Recreation; and Henry Schuster, Agriculture
The governor's nominees to head other key government agencies are Claudette Farrington, Bureau of Internal Revenue; Ira Mills, Management and Budget; Iver Stridiron, Justice (Attorney General); Pedro Encarnacion, Fire Services; and William Quetel, Small Business Development Agency.
One high-profile positions for which Turnbull has yet to announce a nominee is that of police commissioner. He has said that he will not be rushed into making a decision and is looking off-island for candidates.