It is rare and refreshing to see and hear a government official admit his wrongdoing, and apologize for it. That’s what Guam Economic Development Authority board of directors chairman David John did at the GEDA board’s last meeting on June 20.
“At the last board meeting, I screwed up,” Mr. John said about a May 30 vote taken by the board at his behest to send a letter to senators opposing Bill No. 179. That legislation will authorize the conversion of the Guam International Country Club into a solar farm, with financing benefitting the Chamorro Land Trust Commission to the tune of an estimated $9 million. That $9 million can provide around $30 million in financing for the development of CLTC lots with power, water, and wastewater infrastructure that will pave the way for hundreds, if not thousands of lots to be ready for housing construction.
The action by the board violated the Open Government Act because the matter was not noticed to the public in compliance with the act. It also generated public discontent with GEDA for opposition to legislation that proposes to advance both green and inexpensive energy and affordable housing.
“I wasn’t thinking … that sending a letter down to the legislature was something that was open government and it obviously was,” he said in the June 20 meeting. “I take credit blame and I apologize.”
Imagine hearing Lou Leon Guerrero admitting that her infamous ‘I can take your clinics’ and “You have no say” edicts to doctors were wrong. Or Ralph Torres coming out and admitting that he took the Commonwealth and the federal government’s taxpayers for a ride the entire time he was governor.
I don’t remember exactly what happened, but in 2011 then-governor’s chief of staff Franklin Arriola sent a political-natured email to cabinet members. I believe the issue was that one of the addresses he used was a government email address, so it violated the Mini Hatch Act. He honestly didn’t realize he did that, and he came out to the media and apologized to the public about it. The governor’s legal counsel at the time, Jamie Canto, gave me an earful about the dangers of having the governor’s chief of staff admit to a crime. ‘What if the AG pursues charges?’ he asked me while I was on the phone with him and shopping at Mangilao Payless (I know… this memory bank of mine is weird).
But he wasn’t charged. And the public wasn’t angry with him, because he took ownership of his error and said he was sorry. And therein lies an important lesson for government officials: Don’t let the lawyers make the decisions, especially when it comes to something as important as public relations. I digress.
This administration has been short on the courage to admit wrongdoing, say sorry for it, and fix its errors. So, when Mr. John did so, it helped to improve my image of the government.
He confirmed that no GEDA-official letter was sent and admitted that weeks ago he sent testimony to senators in his personal capacity. In his June 20 board meeting remarks he expounded on the matter, explaining that he supports both the continuance of GICC as a municipal golf course and finding land elsewhere for solar panels and affordable housing solutions.
“We can do both,” he said. I’m glad he has clarified his position in favor of solar solutions and affordable housing. I’m not sure about this “other land” he wants to find to make a solar farm (with affordable housing solution that GICC proposes) at the capacity of the GICC solution, but hey, the apology was a start. Perhaps the public discourse can educate him about all the rest.
“No one at this table is anti-solar,” he confirmed. “No one at this table is anti-affordable housing.”
Good. I’m glad that was cleared up. Because it really was something when on May 30 the governor’s economic development arm illegally voted to send a letter opposing a measure that will make our power bills cheaper and open development for affordable homes.
Overall, kudos to Mr. John. Leaders have the intestinal fortitude and ethics to admit when they are wrong, and to say “I’m sorry.”
