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Senate approves multiple positions
The Senate approved Tuesday three of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ appointees to the boards of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and the Northern Marianas College.
The Senate voted to approve the appointment of Weston Thomas Deleon Guerrero to the CUC board and Zenie Mafnas and Charles Cepeda to the NMC Board of Regents.
Deleon Guerrero, who is now officially the only member of the CUC board, is a structural engineering graduate from the University of California San Diego.
“I hope that [Deleon Guerrero]…firmly and consistently uphold your fiduciary responsibilities as a member of the CUC board,” said Sen. Teresita Santos (R-Rota), emphasizing that public trust is hard to get back once broken.
Sen. Justo Quitugua (Ind-Saipan) wants Deleon Guerrero to “provide good guidance with his involvement with the CUC board.” Quitugua also recommended that Deleon Guerrero look at possible training for CUC employees.
Following the approval, the Senate voted to approve both appointments of Mafnas and Cepeda to the NMC board.
Lt. Gov. Victor B. Hocog appointed Mafnas late last year, while Cepeda served as board chair back in 2008.
The current NMC board chair is Mike N. Evangelista, who has been serving as board chair since November 2016.
There was one remaining gubernatorial appointment that did not push through. The approval of Vincent Attao’s appointment as Department of Corrections commissioner was postponed as Attao is currently off-island.
Following the approvals of the appointees, the Senate has verbally agreed to hold another Senate session next week.
