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House OK’s Sablan’s appointment
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Posted on Dec 21 2000
New Public Auditor Michael S. Sablan easily courted the confidence and support of the House of Representatives as he hurdled yesterday the last round of the confirmation process to assume the critical post.
Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio’s former close finance advisor is now officially the chief of the Office of Public Auditor, five days after he was nominated to replace Leo L. LaMotte who retired on December 16.
Members of the lower house hailed his appointment during a special session yesterday to confirm him. On Tuesday, the Senate praised him at a hearing conducted by its Committee on Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigations.
Mr. Sablan, 42, thanked the lawmakers and his colleagues in the accounting profession for giving him the confidence to lead the agency primarily tasked with protecting the government purse.
“I’m honored and pleased with the confirmation,” he said in response to the overwhelming support thrown by the island community on his appointment.
As the new OPA chief, Mr. Sablan said he is now in the process of evaluating projects and ongoing audits as well as dealing with administrative issues.
His transition has been smooth, he explained, because of the assistance from his predecessor whom he said had performed an “outstanding” job while in office.
Since OPA is an independent agency, Mr. Sablan’s term, which will end on 2006, is not co-terminus with that of the governor. Mr. LaMotte was appointed the public auditor in 1994, but was not confirmed until a year later.
Mr. Sablan has vowed to get tough on abusive government officials, while ensuring he would uphold the public trust, fairness and objectivity placed on him. (BS)
