It's been two months since Port of Corpus Christi CEO Sean Strawbridge stepped down, who resigned following a 6 Investigates story looking into excessive spending.
A list of over 40 names has been shortened down to 5 to become the new port of Corpus Christi CEO — after local leaders asked that the hiring process be more transparent.
"What we were seeking was not a seat at the table but to be involved in the process. So, as an appointing body, the appointing body should be involved in that process. Not that we have a vote or a say in it, but the process should be open to us," said San Patricio County Commissioner Tom Yardley.
Twelve mayors with the Coastal Bend Mayors Coalition included requests like transparency in the process, including public input, an independent search committee, and a transparent evaluation process in a letter they sent to the port in mid-June.
"What we are looking for is someone who will get along with the region leaders and enhance that relationship and be more upfront and be more engaged in the overall," Ingleside on the Bay Mayor Jo Ann Ehmann said.
"As one of the 12 mayors that signed this letter, I am deeply disappointed that the commission dismissed the mayor's letter and suggestions," Mayor of Portland Cathy Skurow said.
Port Commission Chairman Charlie Zahn says the process of hiring a new CEO began in April, as Strawbridge and he had been discussing the CEO's resignation or retirement and was underway long before those letters from elected officials were sent. He tells 6 Investigates that it's paramount that they get the right candidate who can work with community leaders.
"Create those relationships between the appointing agencies but more importantly create those between all the agencies, even the small towns like the one I live in, in Port Aransas," said Zahn.
Zahn said that nearly all of the requests made by public officials were included in the process of searching for the new leader of the port, except public input, which he said he ignored, continuing to say there are plenty of people who are "anti-growth, anti-port" and cannot be satisfied.
"It wouldn't do any good for them to walk in here today and say, Charlie, we want you to look at this in a CEO because I know what I'm looking for in a CEO and the type of business we do here at the Port of Corpus Christi," he said.
Several environmental groups issued a combined statement Tuesday, which said the port should restart the process, and "offer complete transparency through the entire CEO selection process."
"Currently there have been no official public updates of the search process or selection of finalists," the statement said.
Zahn said that it is the responsibility of the commission to hire a CEO, not the public or any appointing body.
"I have a charge under the water code and the Constitution of the State of Texas to hire a CEO and I'm going to do that," he said.
Adding that any municipality hiring a city manager wouldn't ask the public, or a committee, to tell them who to hire.
Following the resignation of Strawbridge, Zahn said he met with the port's top ten customers and that they asked for stability and expediency in this process.
The narrowing down of candidates was not done by the port commission as a whole and did not include input from appointing agencies. It's something that Commissioner Diane Gonzalez has been asking the chairman for.
"I believe this process has been flawed, that it was exclusionary, and that moving forward, we have to include all Port Commissioners in the hiring of our new CEO as well as the community," said Gonzalez.
While finalists were originally set to be interviewed by a committee of three port commissioners, Zahn said other commissioners asked to be included in the process.
Wednesday, the entire commission will interview these candidates during an executive session.
Zahn tells 6 Investigates that the port has a quote "hard out" in September to hire a new CEO.
