NEWLY reappointed Commonwealth Election Commission board member Jesus I. Sablan was reelected as CEC chair while Esther Marie A. Yatar was elected vice chair.
Sablan, who has served as the CEC chair since 2018 and a member of its board for the past 15 years, represents Saipan while Yatar, who has been reappointed to the election board, represents Rota. They will each serve another four-year term.
On Friday, the commissioners convened for a meeting in the CEC conference room in Susupe.
The other members of the nine-seat election board are Doris Ann Aldan-Atalig and Department of Public Safety Lt. Jesus C. Cepeda, both representing Saipan, Lelanie I. Manglona of Rota, and John Diego Attao of Tinian.
Yatar nominated Sablan to continue to serve as chair after a lengthy discussion among the commissioners as to who should assume the role.
Cepeda declined to assume the role, given that he is new to the board.
Manglona and Attao also declined, saying that chair should be from Saipan.
Aldan-Atalig, a former board vice chair, declined to serve as chair or vice chair due to health reasons. She instead nominated Yatar to assume the role as vice chair.
During the previous board meeting, Sablan said he was not seeking another term due to personal reasons.
However, because no commissioner wanted to serve as chair, Sablan was asked by CEC Executive Director Kayla S. Igitol to reconsider his decision, as there would only be five commissioners left, one of whom was anticipated to move off island.
Sablan added that Gov. Ralph DLG Torres was having difficulty finding a new commissioner because of “politics” and the low compensation: $60 a day.
Sablan encouraged Igitol to work with the Legislature to increase the compensation of commissioners.
Jesus I. Sablan
Esther Marie A. Yatar
