Former Puna Geothermal Manager Nominated to UH Board of Regents

The office of Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced today the governor’s nominations to the UH Board of Regents for 2013.

Barry T. Mizuno of Hawaii County has been nominated to retain his post on the board. Randolph A. Moore of Oahu and Eugene Bal III have also been nominated by the governor.

Mizuno is a former manager for the Puna Geothermal Venture who left the company in 2006 to form BTM LLC, a private energy consulting firm. He retired in 2012.

The former PGV executive has also served in finance and managing director positions for the Hawaii County government. Mizuno moved to the Big Island in 1983 to take a post as the CFO and Treasurer of Hamakua Sugar Company.

Mizuno currently serves as the chair of the Board of Regents Planning and Facilities Committee, and vice-chair of the Committee on Audits.

The UH Board of Regents is granted power via the state constitution to formulate policy and manage the university, including setting salaries and tuition rates.

The 15-member board has come under fire from lawmakers this year over how it handles university finances. Several bills introduced in the Legislature this session have attempted to increase transparency of the board, or to grant the governor more autonomy over their appointments.

Among other accusations, the regents face criticism over administrator salaries and hiring practices. More than 70 university employees earn in excess of $200,000 annually, with some allegedly hired to oversee programs they have little experience in.