‘There’s plenty of San Nicolases here’

TINIAN—Mayor Jose Pangelinan San Nicolas takes no personal offense when he hears criticisms about the hiring of many “San Nicolases” in the local government, saying it is partly reflective of how big his clan is.

Besides, he said that that he appoints people who are qualified and he can trust.

“I don’t believe in appointing somebody I don’t believe in. I hire somebody who I know can do the job well,” said San Nicolas in an interview in his office Wednesday.

“There’s plenty of us here. I can’t help it. I can’t hide the fact that we are a big family. And you’re only seeing the San Nicolas as last name. You have not seen the middle name San Nicolas,” he said in a cheerful mood.

The mayor said he recently appointed his own son, Michael San Nicolas, as Department of Public Safety resident head.

“He’s been there. He has the experience. I trust him there,” said the mayor.

The mayor has also hired his nephew, former Marianas Public Land Trust board member Joey San Nicolas, as his legal counsel.

“I want to hire a local attorney. He’s homegrown,” said the mayor.

Mayor San Nicolas said his grown children are also in the government “because I want them to be in public service.”

His eldest is Tinian senator Henry San Nicolas.

Other children are Patrick San Nicolas who works as investigator at Tinian Casino and Gaming Commission, Corrine San Nicolas who works at the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, and Ana SN. Santos at the Department of Finance.

His youngest is eight-year old Joedylyn.

San Nicolas prevailed in the two-way mayoralty race on Tinian and Aguigan in the 2005 elections, getting a total of 560 votes.

His opponent, former senate president Joaquin G. Adriano finished the electoral race with 522 votes.

San Nicolas, who comes from the business sector, has said that the Tinian municipality has saved some $250,000 by implementing cost-cutting measures since his assumption to office last January.

He said he cut cellular phones of employees, travels, purchase of new vehicles, and personal use of public vehicles.

He said there are no more authorized travels for personnel.

As for himself, he said that when he travels for personal reasons, he uses his own money.

He admitted to traveling to Manila twice last January.

“I used my own money for those travels. I had to be there for a family medical emergency,” he said.

He said that he used to travel to the Philippines twice a month for business and personal purposes.