Dr. Glenda George, center, and Francisco Rabauliman, back row, poses with family members and senators in the Senate chamber on Monday.
Dr. Glenda George
THE Senate on Monday unanimously confirmed the nominations of Francisco M. Rabauliman as Department of Community and Cultural Affairs secretary and Dr. Glenda S. George to the Health Care Professions Licensing Board.
All seven senators present voted to adopt the report of the Senate Committee on Executive Appointment and Government Investigations or EAGI recommending the confirmation of Rabauliman and George.
Sens. Jude U. Hofschneider and Paul A. Manglona were excused.
The former administrator of the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, Rabauliman was nominated on Jan. 5, 2024, by Gov. Arnold I. Palacios. Rabauliman succeeds former DCCA Secretary Mary Margaret Sablan, who resigned in Aug. 2023 due to health reasons.
As for George, she has been serving on the Healthcare Professions Licensing Board since 2016 and was re-appointed by the governor on Dec. 16, 2023.
In her report, EAGI Chair Celina R. Babauta noted that Rabauliman holds a bachelor’s degree from California Polytechnic State University and has vast experiences throughout the CNMI government that are too many to list. Some of these managerial and executive positions include policy advisor at the Office of the Governor and executive assistant of the Carolinian Affairs Office.
Babauta said Rabauliman’s experiences make him “a well-rounded candidate and qualify him for the position he has been nominated for.”
In an interview after his confirmation, Rabauliman said, “This is another huge task that I’m putting myself into so I’m looking forward to the challenge.” He thanked the Senate, the governor and the lt. governor for their confidence and trust in him.
“I want to make sure that I don’t let them down,” he added.
George, who holds a doctorate from Seattle Pacific University, has made great strides to update and improve the healthcare professional licensing regulations in the CNMI so they can meet national standards, Babauta said.
A licensed clinical psychologist here and in Washington state, George indicated during her confirmation hearing that she would be more than happy to continue her work that she started in 2016.
In an interview, she said, “I am very grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve on the board. I will continue to do my best and serve this community and maintain the commitment that I made since I began in 2016. We have more work to do and I’m looking forward to completing my mission on the board.”
