Gov. Charles W. Turnbull's recent appointments to the Water and Power Authority board were disappointing, to say the least.
The father of the lieutenant governor? A defeated senator? The husband of the governor's chief of staff? Same old, same old. Political cronyism at its finest.
We expected more of Gov. Turnbull, and we think a lot of those who voted for him did too.
We hope these lackluster appointments are not indicative of the quality of nominations we can expect from this governor for equally important — and in some cases, more important — positions: Territorial Court judgeships, the commissioner of Tourism, and members of the boards of the Industrial Development Commission and the Public Services Commission, to name a few.
If we are to turn this government, and this territory, around — economically, financially, politically and socially — we have to pick the most qualified people possible for key positions throughout the government. People with experience in that field. People with expertise in key areas such as financial management, entrepreneurship or in the case of the WAPA board, engineering. People with unquestioned ability and integrity.
It should not matter where they were born. It should not matter how long they've lived here. It should not matter whether they contributed to the campaigns of those in power, or whom they're related to, or how well-connected they are. Obviously some political considerations are essential — some balance, for example, in terms of geography, gender, race and ethnicity. But those cannot be the only considerations and they have to take a back seat to experience and know-how.
More appointments are due soon for other key boards and positions. We hope Gov. Turnbull picks those nominees wisely and well.