October 24, 2003 - Orange County Register: `Rising star' comes home early // Critics said Vasquez wasn't up to the job, but he says he's returning because his `mom and dad still need me.'

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Headlines: Peace Corps Headlines - 2003: October 2003 Peace Corps Headlines: October 24, 2003 - Orange County Register: Some suggest Vasquez is coming home to work for Schwarzenegger : October 24, 2003 - Orange County Register: `Rising star' comes home early // Critics said Vasquez wasn't up to the job, but he says he's returning because his `mom and dad still need me.'

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-250-225.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.250.225) on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 - 11:48 am: Edit Post

'Rising star' comes home early // Critics said Vasquez wasn't up to the job, but he says he's returning because his 'mom and dad still need me.'



'Rising star' comes home early // Critics said Vasquez wasn't up to the job, but he says he's returning because his 'mom and dad still need me.'

'Rising star' comes home early // Critics said Vasquez wasn't up to the job, but he says he's returning because his 'mom and dad still need me.'

October 24, 2003

Byline:CHRIS KNAP

One former Peace Corps director went on to become a U.S. senator. Another was elected governor of Ohio.

So is Gaddi H. Vasquez, the man GOP leaders last year called a "rising star," really coming home to rest after less than two years in Washington?

"This has been a great job, very fulfilling, but it's required a lot of energy, commitment and demands on my time," Vasquez said in an interview Thursday. "I made a decision that it was time to come home to California and spend time with my family. My mom and dad still need me."

Before Vasquez took the director's job Feb. 15, 2002, he endured harsh criticism during confirmation hearings from former Peace Corps volunteers and a U.S. senator who called him a "rank amateur" in international affairs.

Others criticized his management ability, brought into question in 1994 when he and others members of the Orange County Board of Supervisors filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in history after a $1.5 billion investment loss caused by the high-risk maneuvers of the county's then-treasurer. Vasquez resigned his elected seat early, just a few weeks before a grand jury accused two other board members of malfeasance.

This time, Vasquez is announcing his resignation after less than 21 months on the job -- three months less than the commitment required of Peace Corps volunteers.

And he's resigning before another controversy hits -- although, as in the Orange County investment crash, it's not one of Vasquez's making.

The Dayton (Ohio) Daily News is preparing a seven-part investigative series on the dangers faced by Peace Corps volunteers from the 1960s to the present. The paper has spent six months sparring with the Peace Corps over release of public documents detailing deaths and assaults involving Peace Corps volunteers, according to Daily News Assistant Managing Editor John Erickson. Vasquez is quoted defending his agency.

"Gaddi Vasquez told us (his resignation) had nothing to do with our series," Erickson said. "And maybe it didn't."

Last year, 107 major physical assaults were reported worldwide on Peace Corps volunteers, along with 32 major sexual assaults, according to a report published by the Peace Corps. The number of physical assaults was unchanged from 2001 and the rapes decreased 27 percent compared with 2001, the report says.

Vasquez could not be reached late Thursday night to discuss the Daily News' investigative stories, but in an interview with the Register earlier in the day he said the Peace Corps has embarked on a major new effort to improve safety for its volunteers.

But Vasquez said the Corps has also re-entered many countries where volunteers are badly needed, such as Botswana and Swaziland.

"The pandemic of AIDS is terrible in Africa," Vasquez said. "We have re-entered these countries and are doing HIV education and prevention."

Vasquez said he is also proud that Peace Corps volunteers have returned to Peru after 27 years at the invitation of President Alejandro Toledo, who was taught by Peace Corps volunteers as a small boy in his village.

"That was a proud moment for the Peace Corps," Vasquez said.

Although Vasquez hasn't completed President George Bush's goal of doubling the number of Peace Corps volunteers, he said the number is at a 20-year high of 7,600.

Asked if he will ever return to public office, Vasquez said: "I wouldn't want to speculate on that. I have always enjoyed public service. The ability to be a participant in my county, my state, my country, has always been very gratifying."

cknap@ocregister.com





Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Orange County Register

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Peace Corps Directors - Vasquez

PCOL8495
84

.


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: