3 new nominees to Election Commission, MPLT

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial submitted to the Senate last week the names of three other nominees to the Commonwealth Election Commission and the Marianas Public Land Trust board, around the same time he withdrew three nominations to the election board and the Board of Professional Licensing.

Their nominations require the advice and consent of the Senate.

Fitial nominated Trinidad L. Rabauliman and George Moses Sr., both representing Saipan, to the Election Commission.

If confirmed by the Senate, Rabauliman will fill a seat vacated by Jose L. Itibus and her term will expire on Aug. 8, 2013.

Moses will serve the unexpired term of Elizabeth DLG. Aldan, expiring also on Aug. 18, 2013, if he gets confirmed.

The governor also appointed Francisco Q. Deleon Guerrero to serve on MPLT.

If confirmed by the Senate, Deleon Guerrero will serve a six-year term that will expire on Jan. 8, 2018.

The governor made the appointment weeks after the Senate rejected the re-appointment of his sister, Gregoria Fitial-Omar, to the MPLT board, as well as that of Alvaro Santos, now chief financial officer of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., over MPLT’s questionable purchase of property.

The governor submitted the three new names around the same time he withdrew on Monday and Tuesday last week the nominations of Juan S. Torres to the NMI Retirement Fund board of trustees; Candido I. Castro to serve as a member of BPL representing Saipan as a surveyor; and Joseph P. Rosario to serve on the Commonwealth Election Commission representing Saipan. The nominees declined the nominations for “personal reasons.”

In other news, Sen. Frank Cruz (R-Tinian), chairman of the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations, said the committee will be holding hearings on two of three nominees to the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission.

The hearings will be held on Thursday, May 24, at 10am at the Senate chamber on Capital Hill.

They are Joseph C. Guerrero representing Saipan, and Zenie Palacios representing Tinian. The third nominee, Oscar Patrick Quitugua, is not included in the schedule.

The three have already been confirmed by the House.

CPUC nominees require the advice and consent of both the House and Senate.