Soll may get Senate’s confirmation

Acting Attorney General Herb D. Soll’s confirmation in the Senate still hangs in the balance nearly two months since he was appointed by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to the controversial post.

The Senate Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigations Committee has begun review of his nomination, but a definite decision whether to confirm his is only expected after conducting public hearings, according to members.

The Committee chair, Sen. Joaquin G. Adriano, said a hearing is scheduled in two weeks once the Senate delegation to the Washington D.C. trip set for April 6 to 13, have returned to the island.

But he maintained he doesn’t foresee any major problems that could derail Mr. Soll’s confirmation despite some questions from other members of the committee.

“I have confidence that we will be confirming him,” Mr. Adriano said after meeting with the chief government lawyer the other day.

In the meeting, Saipan legislators raised the issue of lack of central authority to monitor release of legal opinions from executive departments and agencies — a function that should be handled directly by the Attorney General’s Office.

“It should be more centralized,” said Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez, who sits as member of the EAGI, without elaborating.

He also expressed hope for Mr. Soll’s confirmation, but he added that his fate will be known once public hearings are held where representatives from the community, such as the CNMI Bar Association, can make or break his appointment.

Named by the governor last Feb. 9 to replace former acting Attorney General Maya B. Kara who was forced out of office after a court order, Mr. Soll can assume the position for only 90 days in acting capacity without the Senate confirmation or else he should be removed as provided under the Constitution.

The AG post has drawn controversy in the past few years after former Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio appointed a succession of officials in acting capacity because of the Senate’s rejection of their nominations.

So far, the present chief executive has failed to win support for Ms. Kara who was named in July 1998 and went on to assume the post until her ouster last January. He is hopeful that Mr. Soll would be confirmed by senators.

Meanwhile, Mr. Adriano said EAGI will endorse to the full Senate the nomination of Herman R. Guerrero as board member of the Marianas Public Land Trust representing Saipan and Carolinian community.

Another recent MPLT appointee, Maggie S. George, however, has declined the governor’s appointment for undisclosed reason, added the committee chair.

Likewise, Connie S. Camacho has declined her re-appointment to the Board of Elections. Her term came under scrutiny after senators questioned the constitutionality of her appointment by the former governor without the Senate confirmation.

But Mr. Villagomez said her rejection to continue her term in the election’s body is not related to that controversy.