Nomination of McPhetres to NMC’s BOR is withdrawn

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has withdrawn his nomination of former Northern Marianas College president Agnes McPhetres to the college’s Board of Regents, apparently at the behest of McPhetres, who has declined the appointment.

The Commonwealth’ top executive informed the Senate of his decision in a letter to Senate President Joseph M. Mendiola Friday, where he expressed regret for withdrawing McPhetres’ nomination.

“This appointment requires the advice and consent of the Senate. It is with deep regret to inform you that I have no choice but to withdraw her name as my appointee,” he wrote.

Fitial apologized to the Senate for the inconvenience the withdrawal might cause.

McPhetres’ nomination was made last Feb. 17 and came on the heels of businessman Jay Jones’ declining the BOR appointment.

Public information officer Charles P. Reyes explained that McPhetres decided to commit herself to more promising projects for the college.

“We respect her decision,” Reyes said, adding that McPhetres has been an institutional figure for the premier community college in the CNMI.

McPhetres earlier said that she was thinking of turning down the BOR appointment.

Speaking before the weekly meeting of Saipan Rotary Club last month, the former NMC president said her appointment would be a conflict of interest because she’s currently closely working with the University of Hawaii on several academic projects that would uplift education standards in the CNMI.

McPhetres’ withdrawal from the BOR followed Jones’ in February. The Triple J Motors general manager cited his demanding workload with the company as the reason for being unable to serve the BOR wholeheartedly.

The governor said then that, much as he regretted the decision of Jones, he would still want a businessman to fill the vacated post. The governor reiterated this during the college’s 25th Silver Anniversary Commemoration held last month. Fitial said his appointment of board member Charles Cepeda was very strategic in placing officers with business background on the board.

He said he believes it would be ideal to have someone who has solid business acumen helping run the community college.

Cepeda joined other new BOR members: retiring Commissioner of Education Rita H. Inos, and Linsa F. Lizama.