Senate fires legal counsel

Tinian — Senate legal counsel Steve Woodruff will have to look for another job when he returns from an off-island trip paid by the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation.

The reason? Frustrated senators on Friday fired him for leaving behind his work in the upper house to focus on his other job at CUC which hired him temporarily to assist the board in the negotiation for the Saipan’s 60-megawatt power project.

Several legislation are experiencing delay, while much-needed Senate comments on significant administration actions are not being drafted despite orders given to Mr. Woodruff ahead of time, according to members.

“This is a very frustrating experience,” said Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes. “I don’t think any member of the Senate should be subjected by delays and inaction by our legal counsel.”

An attempt by Senate President Paul A. Manglona to bring the issue to the rules committee — which apparently was an effort to hold other senators at bay who were pushing for Mr. Woodruff’s termination — was met with resounding objection.

“This time, we should act. A committee review will further delay that,” Mr. Reyes told his colleagues during a session here last Friday.

With the motion to terminate the services of Mr. Woodruff unanimously approved, the embattled legal counsel has until the end of this month to leave his job as provided in his contract which expires at the end of FY 2000 on Sept. 30.

In a similar move, the Senate agreed to offer House legal counsel Tony S. Cabrera the job, but he told reporters after the session he is still undecided. Mr. Cabrera sat in at last Friday’s session to serve as legal counsel.

The impending departure of Mr. Woodruff, who has served the Senate for the last 10 years, will leave the upper house with just the legal services of lawyer Joey Arriola, who is under independent contract.

Both houses of the Legislature will be lacking the required two legal counsels by next month as the House of Representatives also terminated the contract of Steve Mackenzie and is now looking for his replacement.

Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez last week raised concerns that Mr. Woodruff’s job at CUC poses a “conflict of interest” with his legislative work, particularly if he will provide legal opinions on legislation seeking regulations for the telecommunications sector in the CNMI.

The bill, pending in the communications committee which Mr. Villagomez chairs, is opposed by the government-owned utility corporation.

The senator also raised question whether Mr. Woodruff could meet the demands of two jobs, noting he is with the CUC board in Houston, Texas now as part of his services.