Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, center, shares a light moment with Senate President Dennis Mendiola, left, and other lawmakers during the signing of bills at the governor’s office on Jan. 10, 2025.
SENATE President Dennis James C. Mendiola is urging Gov. Arnold I. Palacios to fill vacant board and commission seats.
In his letter on Friday, the Senate president raised concerns “regarding the numerous vacant board and commission appointments that remain unfilled, with particular attention to the persistent absence of nominations from Tinian.”
Variety was unable to get a comment from the governor.
According to Mendiola, there are board and commission vacancies that are “in need of immediate attention to ensure that these bodies can function according to their intended purposes.”
He said these vacancies undermine “our shared goal of fostering equal representation and efficient governance across the CNMI.”
He recommended that the administration collaborate with the municipal mayors to address the vacancies. Such cooperation, he said, would “ensure that the unique needs and perspectives of municipalities are adequately represented within the government.”
“Equal representation is vital to maintaining fairness and inclusivity across the CNMI,” Mendiola said.
Additionally, he urged the governor to consider measures that will streamline the appointment process and limit the number of individuals appointed to specific positions. A balanced approach, he said, would involve allocating one appointee each from Rota and Tinian, and two from Saipan.
However, Mendiola said, “I do understand that some boards and commissions are a bit more complex and require more representation.” By adopting a new structure, he said, “we can simplify the process and promote equitable representation.”
He mentioned the following vacancies:
–Board of Professional Licensing-Saipan.
–Civil Service Commission-Saipan.
–Commonwealth Casino Commission-Tinian.
–Commonwealth Economic Development Authority-Tinian.
–Commonwealth Election Commission-Carolinian.
–Healthcare Profession Licensing-Physician.
–Northern Marianas College Board of Regents-Saipan/Private Sector.
–Northern Marianas Housing Corporation-Tinian/Private Sector.
–Northern Marianas Technical Institute-Tinian.
–Public Utilities Corporation-Tinian.
“If you believe this course of action aligns with our shared objectives, I propose initiating legislation to formalize this framework. This effort would address current inefficiencies and set a precedent for fair and balanced governance moving forward,” Mendiola said in his letter to the governor.
Mendiola said the legislation would also address the need for cost-cutting measures “during a time of economic challenges.”
Asked about the appointment of a new public auditor, the Senate president told Variety, “I will write the governor a letter about that, too.”
The public auditor’s position has been vacant since Kina B. Peter’s resignation in May 2022.
