PHOENIX (CBS5) -
New questions are being raised about Arizona Commerce Chief Don Cardon, and whether he should give back any of the $50,000 signing bonus he received last August.
Cardon announced Wednesday that he is stepping down as the CEO of the newly-created Arizona Commerce Authority, after just five months on the job.
Cardon signed a three-year contract last August to head-up the public/private organization intended to attract new business and jobs to Arizona.
[Click here to read Cardon's contract (PDF)]
He was given a base salary of $300,000 a year, a $12,000 annual vehicle allowance and handed a $50,000 signing bonus.
It was a financial package some state lawmakers questioned right from the start.
"To me it looks like too much," said State Rep. Jack Harper, a republican, in August. "I think it gives the state of Arizona a black eye."
New questions are now being raised after Cardon announced that he's stepping down.
Specifically, what happens to that signing bonus, since Cardon will not be fulfilling his commitment?
CBS-5 News went straight to Gov. Jan Brewer for answers, following her state of the state address in Glendale Thursday.
"We're looking," Brewer said. "Mary Peters, my board member that handles these details is in charge of that committee and is looking to see what obligations we have, and don't have and so we could probably get that information for you in a week or two."
Brewer praised Cardon for getting the newly created public-private operation off the ground.
In a statement, Cardon said the ACA has attracted nearly 11,000 jobs and $9 billion in capital investment, and now, he wants to head back to the private sector.
CBS-5 News wanted to know whether he'll be taking the $50,000 signing bonus with him, money that's paid for by Arizona taxpayers.
"We're always concerned," Brewer said. "We watch taxpayers dollars in every aspect of everything we do in Arizona state government."
Cardon has agreed to stay on the job through the end of June.
Related
Copyright 2012 KPHO (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
Don Cardon, Gov. Jan Brewer
All
content ©Copyright 2000 - 2012, KPHO, Phoenix, AZ.
(A Meredith Corporation Station) and WorldNow. All rights
reserved.