Posted on: Saturday, November 23, 2002

UH to pay Lingle aide's salary

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau

PUHI, Kaua'i — The University of Hawai'i will be sending one of its staffers to the new governor's office, and bringing one in from the outgoing governor's staff — and will pay the salary of both.

The university will loan law professor Randall Roth to the administration of Gov.-elect Linda Lingle.

The Board of Regents, meeting yesterday at Kaua'i Community College, agreed to grant Roth leave with pay to accept a position in the Lingle administration. He will serve as chief policy adviser to the governor.

Roth is a longtime adviser to Lingle. He will not receive a separate salary in the new position.

Paul Costello, UH vice president for external affairs and university relations, said the decision to send Roth with pay was primarily because the governor's office does not have a budget for the position.

"This is unique because the there is no funding available" on Lingle's staff, Costello said.

Roth officially moves from the university to the governor's office Jan. 1 and remains there on his university salary until Dec. 31, 2003. The following year, he is scheduled to be on sabbatical; he has not informed university officials whether he will remain with Lingle's staff in 2004.

Meanwhile, Gov. Ben Cayetano's chief of staff, Sam Callejo, will be going in the other direction.

Callejo, an engineer by training, who served as a deputy state director of transportation and as state comptroller, will join the University of Hawai'i as director of capital improvements. As state comptroller, he managed and implemented a $1 billion capital improvements budget for the state.

"He has broad experience," said Jack Whittaker, vice chancellor for administrative affairs at UH-Hilo, who served on the search committee.

Callejo will take the spot vacated by retiring longtime capital improvements chief Allan Ah San, who is retiring from the university but will serve as director of physical facilities for the Research Corporation of the University of Hawai'i. Ah San will direct RCUH facilities and oversee construction of the new medical school.

Ah San yesterday saw the Board of Regents approve his final capital improvements budget of $666 million for the coming two years — $437 million in the fiscal year starting next June and $229 million for fiscal year 2004-2005.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808)245-3074.