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Governor in process of selecting election panel members
4 seats vacant to represent Saipan, Northern Islands
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres is currently in the process of selecting four commissioner positions for the Commonwealth Election Commission after the commission informed the governor that they lacked members a couple of weeks ago.
Torres said in an interview last Tuesday that he is currently looking at interested parties for filling up the vacant slots. All of the four vacant slots are reserved for representatives of the Saipan and Northern Islands.
The nine-man commission is currently comprised of pro tem chair Jesus I. Sablan for Saipan and the Northern Islands, pro tem vice chair Donald Hofschneider and Joseph E. Santos for Tinian and Aguiguan, and Leilani Manglona and Esther Yatar for Rota.
“We’ve been asking some folks if they are interested in serving,” he said, adding that he was hopeful that they would respond by the end of the week.
“Once they do, we would be forwarding the names over [to the Senate for approval],” added Torres.
According to Torres, former chair Frances M. Sablan “continues to show interest in serving” and remains “in discussions” for her reappointment. Her term expired last Aug. 8.
Last Tuesday, election commissioner Trinidad Rabauliman’s term expired, the same day the CEC pro tem chair called for a meeting.
A CEC commissioner serves a four-year term and requires Senate confirmation.
Jesus Sablan has been serving the CEC since 2007 and said during their meeting last Tuesday that he was willing to serve as chair of the CEC should his health allow it.
