Bush taps Connaughton - Chairman nominated for Maritime Administrator

Potomac News ^ | Wednesday, June 28, 2006 | KEITH WALKER

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President Bush announced Tuesday that he will nominate Prince William Chairman Sean T. Connaughton, R-at large, to be administrator of the Maritime Administration at the Department of Transportation. Connaughton said he'll take the job.

"I'm very honored that the president has selected me," the 45-year-old Connaughton said.

"This is the highest position in my industry," said Connaughton, a 1983 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Connaughton, who must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, didn't know how long the process will take.

"This could take months or it could take much longer," said Connaughton, who has been Prince William County chairman for seven years. "We obviously hope that it would be sooner than later."

He said he will remain chairman until he is "confirmed and sworn in."

Last year's foray into statewide politics may have established Connaughton's name recognition, at least among those doing the hiring.

"My understanding is that I came to the attention of some folks at the national level when I ran for lieutenant governor last year, and they realized what my background was," said Connaughton, who is a maritime and environmental lawyer with the Washington, D.C., firm of Troutman Sanders LLP.

The job offer trumps Connaughton's political ambitions.

"Something like this only happens once," Connaughton said.

Soon after the White House announced Connaughton's appointment, Supervisor Corey A. Stewart, R-Occoquan, announced his intention to run for the Prince William at-large seat.

Stewart has often been at odds with Connaughton over questions of growth in the county.

"I intend to continue to fight to control growth," Stewart said. "It's a question of leadership and the chairman's position is responsible for establishing the direction of our county."

Supervisor W.S. Wally Covington, R-Brentsville, was congratulatory in his remarks about the appointment.

"He deserves it and I wish him well in the endeavor," Covington said.

Rumors of Connaughton's appointment had been on the street for some time, which led Covington to question their veracity.

He was surprised that they were true.

"I'd heard all the rumors for so long. You just never know with Washington politics," Covington said.

Covington described himself as an "interested party" for the at-large seat.

"I'd think about it," he said.

Supervisor Martin E. Nohe, R-Coles, said it's too soon to make that kind of decision.

"We don't really know yet what this process will be for confirmation. We don't have a time line on that, so I don't know that it's really time to be making that decision," Nohe said.

The county has fared well under Connaughton's leadership, Nohe said.

"Presuming that Sean is confirmed and we need to elect a new chairman, we need to make sure that it's somebody who's in the mold of Sean," he said.

A special election would have to be held should Connaughton be confirmed and resign his seat on the Board of County Supervisors.

To get the process started, a judge would have to issue a writ of election within 15 days of the seat becoming vacant. Special elections must be held between 45 and 60 days after a seat is vacated, Connaughton said.

If confirmed, Connaughton would lead an agency with a budget of more than $500 million and nearly 1,000 people, the press release said.

The Maritime Administration helps support national security and strategic mobility for Department of Defense mobilizations.

The administration also trains U.S. Merchant Marine officers through the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and six state maritime schools, and works to reduce environmental risks posed by the presence of obsolete ships in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, the release said.

Connaughton holds a law degree from George Mason University and a master's degree from Georgetown University. He is a 1998 graduate of the U.S. Naval War College, the release said.

He served three years on active duty in the U.S. Coast Guard and in the U.S. Naval Reserve for 18 years. He retired from the U.S. Naval Reserve as a commander in 2006.

Connaughton was first elected in 1999 and again in 2003.

During his tenure, the county built 21 new schools, added several hundred police officers and firefighters, built hundreds of new lane-miles of roads, established a County Department of Transportation, achieved a AAA bond rating and cut the tax rate in half, the release said.

Connaughton said his goals as an elected official were modest.

"My only ambitions were to do a good job for my community," Connaughton said. "Now it's focussed on doing a good job for the country."