The former acting director of the state?s AIDS Administration told The Examinershe resigned after her superiors in the Health Department kept what she called substantial budget proposals from her and never made efforts to find a permanent director to lead the agency.
Naomi Tomoyasu said she explained to deputy health secretary Michelle Gourdine, who oversees the AIDS Administration, the reasons for her departure last month, which included proposals to cut 32 contractual positions and divert funds for a drug assistance program into the state?s general budget.
“These were pretty much the last straw,” Tomoyasu said. “Under difficult fiscal times, there are always challenges. But they didn?t consult me, and I felt that?s the least they could have done.”
Responding to claims made by members of an AIDS watchdog group who suggested controversial reasons for Tomoyasu?s departure, Gourdine said earlier this month that Tomoyasu and deputy acting director Madeleine Shea resigned to pursue other career opportunities.
Gourdine?s spokesman John Hammond said Monday in an e-mail that her comments on the situation have not changed in light of Tomoyasu?s statements.
Earlier this month, Gourdine defended a push to divert money from the state?s AIDS Drug Assistance Program into the general fund, saying the administration still would be able to meet the medication needs of its clients. She said officials never intended to cut 32 contractual positions, but wanted to convert them into regular state positions.
Tomoyasu replaced former administration director Liza Solomon, who stepped down in October 2004 and became the steering chair for the AIDS Legislation Committee, a nonprofit advocacy group who campaigned against the budget proposals. Tomoyasu resigned as acting director in April, just weeks before acting deputy director Shea announced her own departure.
Members of the ALC said they successfully lobbied for a special account to protect drug assistance funding, a bill signed by Gov. Robert Ehrlich on May 16. Gourdine, in an e-mail sent earlier this month, said arrangements are under way to offer all contractual employees state positions by June 30. Henry Fawell, a spokesman for Ehrlich, deferred comments to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Shea began working for the Baltimore City health department at a new position Monday. Tomoyasu has been working at a private applied social services company in Silver Spring and said she wanted the public to know the “real” reason she left the administration.
“I told [Gourdine] explicitly, as much as I love public health, this is something I have to do,” Tomoyasu said. “It?s the truth and I need to get that out.”
