THE Senate on Thursday confirmed Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ three nominations to the Northern Marianas Technical Institute board of trustees: Pacific Rim president Keith J. Stewart, accountant Irene N. Holl, and Hyatt Regency Saipan sous chef Zenn Q. Tomokane.
Stewart and Tomokane were confirmed unanimously, but the three Senate minority bloc members voted against the reappointment of Holl, a vocal supporter of the Republican governor.
Before the roll call vote on the nominations, minority bloc Sen. Edith Deleon Guerrero alleged that Holl had “made fun of” a veteran.
“Ms. Holl, I know you’re the most senior, you’re a re-nominee, and I think that you would know who would be the target population with respect to the workforce, correct?” asked Deleon Guerrero.
Holl nodded and said, “Yes.”
Deleon Guerrero then said, “I want to bring you back in time during Yutu when you made fun of a veteran, with respect to donations to the island of Rota. I do understand that maybe at that time, you were not a nominee or serving on the NMTI board, but here you are today. You are a re-nominee to the board.”
The senator added, “I saw your actions regarding veterans and I am a mother of a veteran, and I have to tell you that it deeply pained me that you mocked a veteran who is one of the priority target populations of any workforce system and federal law makes him a priority for any service under any workforce system. I wanted to address that today with you.”
“May I reply humbly, Senator?” Holl said. “I don’t…remember making fun of any [one] so I would like to at least be reminded please, because if I said something that’s offensive, I really apologize if it offended you or the veteran. I apologize if I did, but I’m trying to remember…what did I say? Maybe I said something as a joke…that I didn’t even know offended someone, so I apologize humbly if that offended anybody. I apologize.”
Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan said, “I’m going to step in here. I think we’re kind of veering off, but we’ll just stick to general questions, and if we can kind of wrap up the committee as a whole, please. Thank you, Senator Deleon Guerrero.”
A former Labor secretary of the Torres administration, Deleon Guerrero earlier asked Holl whether NMTech is represented on the state workforce board; the functions of the state workforce board; how much money has been funneled through the trade school; whether the school’s programs are part of the apprenticeship program; and whether or not the National Center for Construction Education and Research is still being offered by the school.
Holl said she was unsure, and added she was away for 11 months and upon her return, her term on the board had already expired.
However, she was able to attend board meetings virtually, she said.
The Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations, chaired by Sen. Francisco Q. Cruz, recommended the confirmation of the governor’s three nominees to the NMTech board of trustees.
Voting for Holl’s confirmation were the six Republican senators while Deleon Guerrero, Democrat, and fellow minority bloc members Teresita A. Santos and Paul A. Manglona, both independent, voted against it. Manglona attended the session via Zoom.
From left, Northern Marianas Technical Institute board nominees Keith J. Stewart, Irene N. Holl, and Zenn Q. Tomokane appear before the Senate on Thursday.
