10 named to Cabinet

A private attorney who has represented the Covenant Party on several occasions will be the Commonwealth’s new attorney general.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial announced the appointment of Matthew Gregory as interim attorney general in his inaugural address yesterday. Gregory replaces Pamela Brown.

Nine other Cabinet officials have been appointed to key departments:

* Ignacio Dela Cruz, secretary of Lands and Natural Resources;

* Clarence Tenorio Jr., secretary of Commerce;

* Eloy Inos, secretary of Finance;

* J. Kevin Villagomez, secretary of Public Health;

* Gil San Nicolas, secretary of Labor;

* John Wabol, commissioner of Public Safety;

* Ray Mafnas, secretary of Corrections;

* Jose S. Demapan, secretary of Public Works; and

* Daisy Villagomez-Bier, secretary of Community and Cultural Affairs.

Their nominations are subject to Senate confirmation.

Fitial described his new attorney general as “competent and ethical—someone who will duly enforce the laws of the Commonwealth. Someone with credibility and a good measure of objectivity.”

For his part, Gregory said he was excited about his appointment. “I’m excited about the opportunity to help the Commonwealth, to enforce laws of the Commonwealth without bias,” he said.

Having just been appointed, Gregory said he would need some time to get into the Attorney General’s Office and determine how the agency would be run. He will also look into the transition team’s reports before he will make any decisions.

“I will look at the open cases and issues, how the AGO is organized, and how the [current assistant attorneys general] prioritize the cases,” he said.

Gregory has worked for the private law firm Mair Mair Spade and Thompson for four years. He also spent four years serving as legal counsel for Tan Holdings Corp.

He is currently in private practice, with clients such as the Marianas Public Lands Authority, LSG Sky Chefs, Saipan World Resort, and several private individuals.

He made argument before the Commonwealth Election Commission for the acceptance of the Covenant Party as a recognized political party in the CNMI. He also represented Covenant Party candidate Rose Nelly T. Ada-Hocog in her much publicized dispute with the Election Commission over her inclusion in the Nov. 5, 2005 election ballot.