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Maratita’s appointment awaits Inos’ signature
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Posted on Jul 14 2011
Acting governor Eloy S. Inos said the Fitial administration is about ready to appoint former congresswoman Janet Maratita to replace Rep. Diego T. Benavente (R-Saipan) who resigned on June 30 after serving the Legislature for more than 15 years.
In an interview with the Saipan Tribune, Inos said they will wait for Benavente’s resignation to take effect tomorrow, July 15, before appointing Maratita, if she is still available and interested in serving the House minority leader’s remaining term.
“The resignation has not taken effect. We will address that when we crossed that bridge. [But] we’re prepared to make the appointment. We just have to meet with Ms. Maratita to again reconfirm her availability and willingness to serve. Then we will talk to the House because this would require some kind of official ceremony to have her take the oath of office and then we will take it from there,” said Inos.
Press secretary Angel Demapan said that Benavente will keep his seat until the effective date of his resignation.
“Upon officially vacating his seat, the administration will then act on making the necessary appointment of a successor,” he said in an email to the Saipan Tribune.
While waiting for the government to act on Benavente’s replacement, Demapan assured that Benavente’s retirement will not create a temporary vacuum at the House that may result in his constituents in Precinct 1 being underrepresented.
“Rep. Benavente is one of six representatives from Precinct 1. So while the administration intends to act in the most timely fashion possible, the people of Precinct 1 would still be adequately represented by their remaining five lawmakers,” Demapan said.
Maratita ran and won under the Covenant Party and served in the 14th House of Representatives. In the 2009 election, she ran under the Republican Party and lost to Benavente.
She is currently program manager for the Department of Public Health’s Diabetes and Non-Communicable Disease Control.
Benavente, one of the longest serving lawmakers, spent more than 15 years in the Legislature as a speaker, minority leader, and member. He served as lieutenant governor from 2002 to 2006 to then governor Juan N. Babauta.
