An interesting drama played out in Washington DC this past
weekend as U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary Anthony M.
"Tony" Babauta resigned from his post.
With
the departure of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar expected in March and a second term
for President Barack Obama in full
swing, the issues surrounding the DOI Inspector General's investigation into
alleged actions by the former-Hill aide and Guam Legislative staffer have yet
to be fully revealed.
Washington
insiders have revealed a number of different issues that may have led to Tony
leaving Interior. It is likely he will
end up on K Street lobbying on any number of the issues he spent the last ten
years working on up on Capitol Hill. The
Gonzaga graduate could help influence policy on renewable energy, trade, or
insular area matters. One thing is for certain, his background and federal
policy experience will be of great benefit to his next employer.
So why resign?
The Agat, Guam native ascended like a rocket
to one of the highest posts ever held by a Chamorro in an executive branch
agency. In fact, some wondered how he
was able to nab such an important job early in the current Administration as
Senior Advisor to Secretary Salazar then Assistant Secretary without giving a
single penny to the Obama Campaign or stumped for Obama during the 2008
election cycle. Maybe it was his policy
work with U.S. Virgin Islands Delegate Donna Christiansen, his professional
staff experience with Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo or his often talked
about-but quiet-role working on the staff of former Guam Delegate Robert
Underwood.
Regardless, many a Chamorro was proud of Tony. Such an accomplishment is remarkable with all
things considered and perhaps the career path will inspire other young men and
women of Guam to do the same.
Washington DC is a
nasty town. Though the seat of one of
the greatest government's in the world, DC is a place where those with
influence and a shred of credibility among the political elite play for
keeps.
Tony was a decision maker. Not many people have respect for such authority. Many others may have even less respect for a
guy who may or may not have been going at the direction of the agency foremost
on the radar of insular area people and others looking to profit in America's
last Pacific and Caribbean frontiers. Tony's actions probably aren't matching up with this President's
agenda from now and into the Inaugural activities in 2017.
On this side of the
dateline, this may not bode well for the Democratic Party of Guam who were
banking on a marketable and young policy wonk to perhaps get the nod to go
against the incumbent Governor of Guam and retake Adelup for the first time
since 2002. I don't think this will be the last time we will hear of this
issue.
There is an old saying that, "It seldom happens that a premature
shoot of genius arrives at maturity."
Tony was the face of a sitting U.S. President. His shingle says so. It was the face that may have been hiding
something that only in time will be revealed and hopefully any pain or
heartache is mitigated for the sake of the other actors.