Manglona ousted as Tinian Municipal Council chair

The Tinian Municipal Council held an election yesterday that ousted Patrick A. Manglona as chairman.

Manglona was the only one of three council members who did not attend the 3:30pm session as he is currently in Guam. He is now the new secretary. Estevan P. Cabrera is the new chairman and Joseph SN. Cruz is the new vice chairman.

Cabrera will only have about eight months to serve as chairman since a mid-term election is scheduled in November.

“Within that period, I will do my best to serve the best interests of the general public,” Cabrera said in a phone interview minutes after the election.

According to Cabrera, the special session was initially scheduled for March 29. Manglona, however, “didn’t agree to it because he’s claiming that we’re backstabbing him.”

“That wasn’t the case,” added Cabrera, as he recounted that attorney Janet King was their witness when Manglona asked for consideration to move the session to Monday, April 2. However, Manglona didn’t sign the public announcement regarding the meeting, prompting Cabrera and Cruz to decide to hold the election yesterday.

Cabrera repeatedly emphasized that the council majority’s decision was “nothing political,” saying that it was part of a “gentleman’s agreement” to rotate the chairmanship among the three council members.

He added that the agreement was made months before the November 2009 general election that got them to their council posts.

But more than the agreement, Cabrera cited other reasons why Manglona had to be voted out of chairmanship.

He maintained that “there was not much transparency” at the council office during Manglona’s term. “There were some decisions made by chairman Manglona without our knowledge,” Cabrera said. “I understand that he’s the expenditure authority but he should have consulted us.”

Cabrera said this lack of transparency was manifested when Manglona hired a consultant, his uncle Herman Manglona, in October 2011.

Moreover, Cabrera said that the former chair did not have “much commitment” in performing official functions and during community events.

Cabrera also confirmed information that Manglona made threats to terminate council executive director Lynette B. Hofschneider.

Hofschneider separately confirmed this, saying that there was an element of “personal attack” in Manglona’s effort to remove her from her position. She declined to elaborate.

Cabrera vowed that he will uphold transparency and accountability while serving as council chairman by ensuring that the vice chairman and secretary are kept abreast of council decisions and activities.

Vice chair Cruz, for his part, said the council re-organization has been “overdue.” With the new leadership, Cruz said the council will now “go somewhere” and be able to accomplish its tasks and responsibilities.