He was replaced effective 6 p.m. yesterday by Capt. Dolores San Nicolas, Variety learned.
In his memorandum addressed to the heads of departments and agencies, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial said San Nicolas will serve as the acting Corrections commissioner.
In an interview, the former commissioner said the governor did not even try to personally inform him, that he had been fired.
“But I’m well prepared for this,” Tenorio said.
He believes that Fitial did not appreciate his decision to run as an Independent candidate for Saipan mayor.
Press Secretary Charles Reyes, in a separate interview, said because he had not yet receive the memorandum he could not comment.
Tenorio said Fitial wanted him to be the Covenant Party’s candidate but he, the former commissioner, had already made up his mind to run as an Independent.
“I have the right to do whatever I want to do in my life,” Tenorio said.
He said this will be his first time to run for an elected office so he wants to reach out to people from different parties.
“I am a man of my word — I believe in integrity and I have a purpose in life,” he said.
Saipan, he added, now needs a person committed to serve the people and who knows how to make things happen.
The current mayor, Juan B. Tudela, a Democrat who ran on the Covenant ticket in 2005, has already served two terms and can no longer seek re-election.
Former Rep. Candy B. Taman, a Republican, earlier said that he wanted to be the Covenant Party’s mayoral candidate.
