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Opposition shuts door for Kara renomination
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Posted on Dec 03 1998
Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday appeared to have wavered in renominating acting Attorney General Maya Kara to the premier post, saying uncertainty over her confirmation is preventing him from submitting her name anew as chief government lawyer.
After her nomination had been bypassed twice by the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigations for allegedly influencing the outcome of a settlement deal with a Japanese advertising firm, Kara came under fresh attacks from senators for spending public funds for a potential applicant.
“I have confidence in Maya because of her experience with the Legislature,” Tenorio said in an interview, “It does not necessarily mean that I will resubmit her name.”
According to the governor, he will unlikely nominate her again to the post without assurance that the nine-member body will give its stamp of approval. “I said I’ll try to work with the Legislature and I would never submit her name if she’s not going to be confirmed.”
The embattled acting AG found herself again in the center of controversy for bringing onto the island a Seattle-based applicant to the chief of investigation post using government money that has outraged a number of senators.
Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez and Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes, two of Kara’s most vocal critics in the chamber, said such expenditure was unnecessary at a time when the government is trying to reduce spending due to shrinking cash resources.
Kara has offered to reimburse the money spent for the roundtrip plane ticket of John H. Race from the mainland to Saipan amounting to $1,821.50.
Earlier reports said Race’s trip cost the financially-troubled government more than $3,000, which also included expenses for hotel accommodation, car rental and per diem. Kara, however, maintained CNMI only spent for his airfare.
