Saipan Tribune

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Friday, February 15, 2013

Senate confirms DPS, DPW chiefs, 3 other Fitial nominees

The Senate confirmed the governor's nominations of Sgt. James Guerrero to serve as Department of Public Safety commissioner and Anthony A. Camacho as Department of Public Works secretary, along with three others, Senate Vice President Ralph Torres (R-Saipan) and Senate President Jude Hofschneider (R-Tinian) told Saipan Tribune.

The Senate is holding a session on Tinian Friday afternoon.

Senators confirmed each of the five nominees by a vote of 8-0, Torres said.

This is the first time since early 2012 that DPS will have a commissioner that has the advice and consent of the Senate. The governor's failure to timely fill vacancies in government were among the articles of impeachment against him.

Deleon Guerrero said his main thrust is to restore the public’s trust and confidence in DPS and boost employee morale. He had prevailed in a lawsuit he filed against DPS over the department’s discriminatory practices in promotion and hiring.

Senators also confirmed Gov. Benigno R. Fitial's nominations of Michaela U. Sanchez as a member of the Northern Marianas College Board of Regents representing Tinian, Martin B. Ada as a member of the Marianas Public Land Trust, and Arsene Borja as a member of the Civil Service Commission.

The Senate is also expected to adopt today the rules that will govern the impeachment trial of Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, who was impeached by the House on 18 charges of corruption, felony and neglect of duty on Monday and Tuesday.

More information in Monday's paper.