All the 18 members present voted to adopt the committee report recommending Peter’s confirmation.
Rep. Joseph Leepan Guerrero and the nominee’s husband, Rep. Marco Peter, were excused.
The Senate, which held a public hearing on Mrs. Peter’s appointment last week, is expected to confirm her nomination in its next session.
Rep. Joel Camacho, who chairs the House Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations, read the committee report and asked his colleagues to support its recommendation. He also informed the other members of the additional testimonies expressing strong support for Mrs. Peter’s appointment.
House Minority Leader Tina Sablan said following last week’s public hearing and upon reviewing the written testimonies and the committee report, the minority bloc members support the nomination of Mrs. Peter.
Acting Public Auditor Kina B. Peter poses for a photo with members of the House of Representatives, family members and friends following her confirmation by the House on Tuesday. Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
She has “the credentials, the depth and breadth of professional experience, an impressive record of leadership and accomplishment, and, we believe, the integrity, the ethical and moral compass, to carry out the duties of the public auditor effectively,” the minority bloc stated.
“And these duties are critical — especially in fiscally challenging times such as these, and when public trust in government may seem to some of us to be at an all-time low. These duties include auditing the receipt, possession, and disbursement of public funds. Preventing and detecting waste, fraud, and abuse of public funds. Observing our elections, and helping to ensure that they are free and fair,” the minority bloc added.
“Ultimately, the public auditor safeguards public funds and public resources, and upholds public trust in our government. We are pleased with [Mrs.] Peter’s nomination, and we are ready to support her confirmation and to continue to support the work of OPA going forward,” the minority bloc stated.
In his testimony, Tan Holdings vice president for corporate business development Alex A. Sablan endorsed Mrs. Peter to be the next public auditor “for her exceeding qualifications for the position, her mindset towards serving our community through her appointment, and her capability to aid in efforts towards the CNMI’s financial recovery from the pandemic and long after.”
He said as a certified public accountant, Mrs. Peter has served as senior finance leader, senior accountant and accounting manager for the Boeing Company and was a senior auditor for five years with Deloitte.
Tan Holdings vice president Ivan E. Quichocho said the nominee “has proven herself to be capable of accomplishing any task given to her, no matter its complexity.”
Dora Inos Deleon Guerrero, who is a CPA, said she has known Mrs. Peter for 20 years and has worked with her as mentor and colleague.
“The CNMI has the opportunity to embrace an educated, experienced, highly qualified and professionally disciplined individual to lead this independent agency,” she added.
If confirmed, Mrs. Peter will serve a term of six years and can be reappointed once.
Her predecessor, Michael Pai, served for two terms. No person may serve as public auditor for more than two consecutive six-year terms.
