(Host) Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie is exploring whether he can balance his Vermont political duties with a potential appointment to an international aviation post. The appointment is made by the White House. It’s unclear if Dubie would be able to stay on as lieutenant governor if President Bush selects him for this job.
VPR’s Bob Kinzel has more.
(Kinzel) The International Civil Aviation Organization is based in Montreal and operates under the jurisdiction of the United Nations. The organization regulates many aspects of international air travel, including licensing of personnel, telecommunications issues, aircraft emissions and the security issues surrounding the transportation of dangerous goods.
Dubie has a lot of experience in aviation. He’s a pilot for American Airlines, he’s a colonel in the Vermont Air National Guard and he’s been a key person for the Douglas administration on Homeland Security concerns.
The U.S. representative to the ICAO is appointed by the president and the position is considered to be at the ambassador level of government. Currently the position is vacant and Dubie clearly has some interest in it, particularly if he could balance the responsibilities of this job with his duties as lieutenant governor:
(Dubie) “It’s a really exciting part of the United Nations. I know about the job and I think I would be uniquely qualified for the job. And as lieutenant governor I have options because Howard Dean practiced medicine. There’s options about how I can use my time, especially when the session is not in. These are issues that are important to our state, important to our nation and so I’m open- minded. I think it would be a great job but I don’t really have anything further to say.”
(Kinzel) Would Dubie take the job if it was offered to him if it meant resigning as lieutenant governor?
(Dubie) “It’s really premature for me to really comment on that. I think it’s just, it would be inappropriate for me to make that kind of a statement at this time.”
(Kinzel) There’s another twist to the story. Federal law might prohibit Dubie from taking the aviation position and serve as lieutenant governor. The Hatch Act expressly forbids full-time federal employees from serving in elected state positions. The question is whether the U.S. Representative to the ICAO is considered to be a federal employee. Representatives of the organization say they believe that’s the case because the appointee’s salary is funded by the United States government.
For Vermont Public Radio, I’m Bob Kinzel in Montpelier.