Gov. Matt Meyer formally requests board nominations made by former Gov. Bethany Hall-Long during her two week stint in office be withdrawn from consideration by the State Senate.
While Hall-Long only served for 14 days as Delaware’s chief executive up until Meyer’s inauguration Tuesday, in her final days, she nominated five appointees to the Diamond State Port Corporation's Board of Directors.
The Board manages and operates the Port of Wilmington and also heads the development of the Delaware Container Terminal at Edgemoor, a project that has been halted due to legal permitting challenges.
Hall-Long’s nominations include outgoing Secretary of State Jeff Bullock, who is currently the chair of the board, James Ascione, William Ashe, Curtis Linton and Robert Medd.
When asked about the nominations immediately following his inauguration, Meyer responded: “We intend to withdraw any of those nominations.”
Hours later when the Senate went into legislative session, the secretary of the Senate read a letter from Meyer formally asking the body to disregard Hall-Long’s picks.
“I respectfully request that the Senate take no further action on them. I understand the economic importance of the Port and the significant oversight responsibilities of its board directors. I look forward to my first days of office to collaborating with the Senate on a robust and deliberate nomination process concerning candidates for these appointments," the letter reads.
“Some of the individuals whose names who have just been withdrawn may very well return to my own shortlist of nominees, along with other potential qualified candidates for the appointments. Now is the time for considered collaboration on this important matter.”
The Senate sent a letter back to Meyer acknowledging his request, but note they feel Hall-Long’s candidates are qualified for the positions, and four of Meyer's cabinet secretaries — who are expected to be confirmed by the end of the month — are legislatively appointed to the board.
Those members would include Meyer's pending nominations for Secretary of State Charuni Patibanda, Secretary of Transportation Shanté Hastings, Secretary of Finance Michael Smith and Secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security Joshua Bushweller.
"We believe, based on our own legal research, that these are viable nominees before the Senate. Whether you take issue with process, or with individual nominees on their perceived merits, we invite you to advance your own nominees for Senate consideration — a step that is well within your rights as Governor. As you write in your letter, 'now is the time for considered collaboration on this important matter.' We agree that a 'robust and deliberative process' is critical," the letter from Senate President Pro Tempore David Sokola reads.
"Together, we have a collective responsibility to decide on the best path forward for this critical infrastructure project and the working families who stand to benefit from its long-term viability. The Senate has a responsibility to confirm nominees to the Board who best share that vision," the letter concludes.
The Edgemoor project faced a major setback in October when a judge in Philadelphia invalidated federal approvals that would have allowed construction of the new container terminal to move forward.
Sokola says that in his talks with Bullock, the state does not consider that decision final and plans to move forward with some sort of appeal or refile process.
During her Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday, Patibanda says her and the governor are in full support of the project and plan to move forward with it depending on the legal proceedings.
