| AP is reporting that at a press conference a few minutes ago Governor Romney indicated that he wants to force Matt Amorello out as chairman of the Turnpike Authority.
Someone ought to ask Christy Mihos what he thinks about Romney's move. Then-Governor Jane Swift tried to fire Mihos and fellow Turnpike board member Jordan Levy for what she considered to be financial mismanagement. A very nasty court battle ensued, which Levy and Mihos ultimately won when the SJC concluded that Swift had not made a good enough case to fire them. Mihos, not satisfied with getting his job back, then sued Swift personally for violating his civil rights. (Vindictive much?)
If he really decides to go this route, Romney may ultimately find himself in a predicament similar to Swift's. Although last night's tragedy is obviously unacceptable, it does not yet seem obvious that Matt Amorello is directly at fault for it, especially since the part of the tunnel that collapsed was built before he was chairman. Perhaps the honorable thing for Amorello to do would be to declare himself accountable as the chairman and voluntarily resign - but I'm guessing that he won't choose to do that. And, under the high standard of blame that the SJC has demanded for the Governor to remove a member of an independent authority like the Turnpike, Romney is setting himself a tough row to hoe. |
