SNILD approves Alinas’ nomination to Zoning board

The Saipan & Northern Islands Legislative Delegation’s Judiciary & Government Operations Committee voted to approve the nomination of Eleanor Alinas to the CNMI Zoning board.

With four members present and two absent, the SNILD JGO committee voted in favor of Alinas’ nomination to the CNMI Zoning board. With the approval, Alinas’ nomination now moves to the full Senate floor for a vote and possibly confirmation.

Alinas stated that being nominated to serve on the Zoning board is an honor as it gives her the chance to serve the Commonwealth.

“I am truly humbled by this nomination coming from the Office of the Governor and Office of the Lieutenant Governor. It’s an honor to be here and be given this opportunity to serve the Commonwealth,” she said.

Alinas explained that giving back to the Commonwealth through serving as a Zoning board member means a lot as the Commonwealth provided her so many opportunities through the years.

“I started here on Saipan with nothing, then I was able to start a business and grew it. The Commonwealth has been very kind to me and gave me all these opportunities to thrive as a small, minority business owner, the Commonwealth was able to provide this for me,” she added.

Alinas shared that if she is officially given the chance to serve as a Zoning board member, she intends to help small business owners like herself to further encourage entrepreneurship on the islands.

“This nomination to the board is really important to me. Speaking on behalf of small businesses, with the economy right now, I think it is important to strengthen small business communities. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy so if we are able to support the local businesses through agencies like the Zoning board, then we can continue to encourage entrepreneurship in our economy which brings in jobs, taxes, and hopefully will play a big part in the revitalization of our economy,” she said.

Present for Alinas’ nomination hearing were her friends and family to include House floor leader Rep. Ed Propst (D-Saipan), Customs and Biosecurity Director Jose Mafnas, Clyde Norita, and more.

Propst, Mafnas, and Norita all presented comments before the SNILD JGO committee sharing that should Alinas be nominated to the Zoning board, she could use her years of experience as a CNMI small business owner to contribute to the board as well as the CNMI.