One of three candidates for port authority president drops out

2/12/2009

One of the three remaining candidates for president of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority has taken another job and withdrawn his name.

Sean T. Connaughton, the former maritime administrator in Washington for the U.S. Department of Transportation, notified the port authority s recruiter this week that he accepted a job with the American Bureau of Shipping, said authority Spokesman Carla Firestone.

Mr. Connaughton s exit leaves two candidates for the president position that has been filled on an interim basis since August by Paul Toth. The candidates are Ricci L. Gardner, a past executive for Dana Corp. and Michael J. Stolarczyk, an executive for Excel Inc. who lives near Columbus.