Cayetano today reaffirmed his belief that Blanco has no conflict. Senators who are holding up Blanco's confirmation have a right to ask the "hard questions," but should address the dual conflict question themselves if that is a concern, the governor said at a state Capitol news conference.
The governor said he found it interesting that the issue would be raised with Blanco, but was not asked when when Robin Campaniano served on the board and state Insurance Commission under former Gov. John Waihee.
Blanco last night proposed convening a special regents meeting after the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments balked for a second time at approving him. Dan Ishii, Board of Regents secretary, said the regents could meet no earlier than next Friday because of the Sunshine Law requirement for public notice. He said the regents could report to senators by April 22.
In a letter to Chairwoman Malama Solomon after she held Blanco's appointment April 4, Daniel Mollway, executive director of the state Ethics Commission, said "the only assurance of high ethical standards will depend not on law but on Mr. Blanco himself and the opinions of other members of the Board of Regents." Mollway pointed out the attorney general has stated the university is "a constitutionally independent corporation and not an administrative or executive agency."
Solomon said earlier yesterday: "It's a tough problem of how we are going to deal with this situation of actual dual government roles. The committee is not satisfied with 'trust me.'"
While the ethics code calls for members to recuse themselves in conflicts with private sector affiliations, there is no code addressing conflicts between two government positions, the Ethics Commission stated.
Committee members wanted Blanco to come up with a solution to deal with the situation and restore public trust and integrity.
"All I can assure you is when I sit as a regent my first and foremost interest is in the university," Blanco testified.
Sen. Rey Graulty called it an "uncomfortable position" to reappoint Blanco. He said the "trust me" standard is "so nebulous if not nonexistent."
Solomon questioned Blanco's role as regents chairman and a leader in decision-making on the board. She said it's a conflict because he plays a key role in matters of deciding conflicts. If he were not chairman, she said, it wouldn't be as big a problem.