The Senate on Tuesday approved two director nominees.
Senators voted 13-3 to confirm Timothy Jones as Director of the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, and voted unanimously, 16-0, to confirm Vaetagaloa Glenn Lefiti to be Director of the Department of Homeland Security.
Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean said that he had campaigned the day before with senators to approve Jones because he was the only “white man” on the cabinet, and he didn’t want Jones to feel that Samoans discriminated against him.
Jones said during his confirmation hearing that he had no plans to apply for a director position, but decided to do so after being approached by DMWR employees.
Play Audiojones-why-apply
(Transc.) Jones: I was, I was being harassed by the DMWR staff that they needed some help. Some of those people were here today. And just a personal way. DWMR is a strong— department for budget, for strong assets and equipment. But they did ask me to please apply for that, because I— I know many of them. I live on the water. I spent a lot of time in the water. I spent most of my life on the water. I’m a commercial fisherman. I’m a private fisherman. So I run across marine wildlife people a lot. So I have a personal relationship with many of them, and they encouraged me to apply. I, I was going to retire and spend time with my family and my grandchildren, but I thought, I really, really support the efforts that Governor Tuaolo and Lieutenant governor, who have put into this, campaign and their administration, and the concerns they have for the direction of the government. And I can support that. So I applied for the marine wildlife.
Sen. Togiola Tulafono found his comment concerning. He asked Jones how he could be an effective administrator, if his desire to be director was driven by employees who wanted him as director to be their man and be favorable to them. “How do you plan to resolve conflicts if what the administration wants for the department is different from what the employees want?” he pressed.
Here’s Jone’s response…
Play Audioanswer-to-togiola
(Transc.) Jones: Honorable Senator, Government Pula campaigned on putting the people first, and that meant all levels of people from the highest levels to the lowest levels. And I feel like if I’m supporting the staff of the DMWR, but I’m also supporting the mandates from the governor. And I have continuously told the staff that I am not a professional career service or manager, that I am a political appointment from the governor’s office. And I think that that cooperation works both ways from the employees up the chain and from the governor’s office down the chain to support everybody, including the operations DMWR. I don’t feel there’s a conflict in supporting the employees or—.
Togiola had several questions about where Jones lived, the boats that he owns and the temporary organization chart for the Governor’s Office.
Jones said that he lived with his wife’s family in Asili when he’s not on a derelict vessel that’s moored in the harbor. The vessel is inoperable, and he was recently notified of a grant obtained by Port Administration to have the vessel cut up and disposed of. He said he stays on the vessel, which is moored next to the old Manu’atele to monitor the vessels for safety. Jones said he also owns a small dingy which is not registered.
Concerning the organizational chart for the Governor’s Office, Jones said this was only temporary and the media misconstrued the chart saying that directors would report to the executive advisors. He said directors only report to the Governor.
Senators took note that most of Jones’ experience was with marine resources when DMWR is also responsible for wildlife resources. He said that the department has wildlife biologists that would advise and guide him with regards to forests.
Asked about his position on prohibited fishing areas and sanctuaries, Jones said that there are two ways to view this, as a businessman and as a conservationist. He said his stance would be dictated by the Governor’s policies.
