Speaker Arnold I. Palacios, R-Saipan, said Ed Tenorio, the president of the local Republican Party, no longer wants to become the next LB director.
“The leadership is talking about it [LB director vacancy]. Ed [Tenorio] has withdrawn his nomination,” he told Variety.
The House leadership earlier pushed for Tenorio’s appointment as the LB director but the Senate wanted Reyes for the post.
Due to this deadlock, Joaquin Omar, an appointee of the previous Covenant Party leadership, was allowed to complete his contract, which ended on Sept. 30.
Reyes is the wife of Senate President Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan.
The LB director and deputy director get the same annual salaries provided to the governor and the lt. governor — $70,000 and $60,000 respectively.
Under the proposed Fiscal Year 2009 budget, all cabinet heads will receive a maximum salary of $52,000 annually unless they have a Ph.D. or a law degree.
Some lawmakers who will experience cuts in their miscellaneous funds said it’s not fair to make exemptions for the LB officers.
On Oct. 6, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial appointed Omar as his special assistant for administration for the Emergency Management Office.
Omar will be the acting director of EMO until Mark S. Pangelinan returns from an off-island trip.
