Chafee admits difficulty finding new EDC board candidates

GOV. LINCOLN D. CHAFEE admitted at an EDC board meeting that he has found it a challenge to replace those Economic Development Corporation board members who have either resigned or asked to be replaced.  / PBN FILE PHOTO/FRANK MULLIN
GOV. LINCOLN D. CHAFEE admitted at an EDC board meeting that he has found it a challenge to replace those Economic Development Corporation board members who have either resigned or asked to be replaced. / PBN FILE PHOTO/FRANK MULLIN

PROVIDENCE – Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee Monday night said he expects to nominate new members to the depleted R.I. Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors by the end of the week, but acknowledged finding candidates has been difficult. The governor had hoped to announce new nominees last week.

The board, which oversees the state’s quasi-government business development arm, has seen its membership drop from the maximum 13 directors down to nine, plus the governor as ex-officio chairman.

Of those members, three have asked to be replaced as soon as possible and a fourth, whose term has expired and asked not to be reappointed, has not attended a meeting in many months.

After five members resigned or were forced out in the wake of the 38 Studios collapse last year, Chafee nominated six new directors, but they were never confirmed by the R.I. Senate.

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Chafee attributed the challenge of finding new EDC board members to “all of the issues we have had to deal with,” including 38 Studios and high leadership turnover before his election.

In other news Monday, the EDC voted to hire Navigant Consulting Inc., which has offices in Boston and one consultant in Portsmouth, to create a new state energy plan.

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