Senate Rules Committee chair Violet Anne Golden said she hopes to hold confirmation hearings for four appointees to the seven-member Industrial Development Commission in a couple of weeks.
Action by the IDC — including a well-publicized push to ensure existing beneficiaries are complying with the terms of their agreements — is on hold because of the lack of enough members to constitute a quorum, according to IDC director Frandelle Gerard.
In March, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull submitted four nominations to the commission: Malcolm Plaskett, attorney and former government aide; Mary Ann Pickard, former senator and former school teacher; Randolf Allen, labor representative; and businessman Neil Weiss.
All have completed the mandatory 11-page Rules Committee questionnaire, according to a status report from Rules staff, and Weiss has been interviewed.
In addition to information on education, work experience and accomplishments, the questionnaire asks about possible conflicts of interest, sexual harassment, terrorism and criminal behavior. It goes to all nominees that require legislative confirmation. Some nominees have a few more questions to answer, depending upon the position for which they have been nominated.
Background investigations conducted by committee staff — primarily Jim Southerland, who works as a consultant to Golden — include police reports and tax compliance reports.
Southerland said the committee is trying to move expeditiously on the governor's nominations for judge and for tourism commissioner. Of the boards and commissions, he said, IDC is on the front burner because of the commission's current inability to muster a quorum.
Two members of the IDC serve by virtue of their cabinet positions: the Tourism commissioner, who chairs the commission, and the director of the Internal Revenue Bureau.
Turnbull has yet to make an appointment to fill the seventh IDC seat — a representative who is under 30 years of age.
