(c) Executive Director The Commission shall have power to appoint and remove an Executive Director. The Executive Director shall be paid at the rate of basic pay for level III of the Executive Schedule (section 5314 of title 5, United States Code). Such appointment shall be made solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties of the position and without regard to political affiliation. (d) Staff Subject to such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the Commission, the Executive Director shall have the power to— (1) appoint, fix the compensation of, and remove such other personnel as he or she deems necessary