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Senate president: Kiyu’s rejection complies with law
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Posted on Jun 08 2011
Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) told Gov. Benigno R. Fitial that the Senate’s rejection of former senator Thomas P. Villagomez’s reappointment to serve on the Commonwealth Ports Authority’s board of directors complied with the law.
Manglona, who cited legal advice from Senate legal counsel Matthew Meyer, wrote the governor a letter on June 3 “to clear up any misunderstandings” on the Senate’s rejection of the governor’s appointee.
“I have asked Senate legal counsel to advise me on the Senate’s rejection, and I am assured it was processed consistent with the intent of the above-named statute [Title 1 CMC 2904],” Manglona told the governor.
Sen. Frank Cruz (R-Tinian), chairman of the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigations, said the governor’s Feb. 15 letter reappointing Villagomez did not reach his office and remained with the Senate president’s office.
But Cruz said it is the president’s prerogative on what to do with the governor’s appointment letters, saying he respects the president’s decision.
The Senate legal counsel, in his June 3 memo to the Senate president, said, “As an official matter, all documents received by the Office of the Senate President are officially received by the Senate, and your authority to dispose of such matters is within your purview as Senate president.”
“As such, no further action needs to be taken to comply with the clear intent of 1 CMC 2904,” he said.
The Senate rejected the governor’s reappointment of Villagomez, by allowing 90 days to pass without action on the nomination.
