GOVERNOR Ralph DLG Torres has nominated Jesus C. Cepeda to the Commonwealth Election Commission’s board to fill the seat vacated by Proserpina Magofna who has relocated to the U.S. mainland.
Magofna was sworn into office in October after being confirmed by the Senate to be one of Saipan’s representatives to the election board.
If confirmed, Cepeda, a Department of Public Safety police officer, will serve Magofna’s remaining term that will expire on July 21, 2025.
With eight months left before the general election, three of five seats on the election commission are still vacant. Henry Kaipat whose term expired in July last year “respectfully declined” the governor’s renomination of him.
The governor has yet to nominate someone to fill Kaipat’s seat.
In his letter to Cepeda, the governor said, “I am pleased to nominate you to serve as a member of the Commonwealth Election Commission representing the Third Senatorial District.”
“I am confident that you are qualified and you will devote your time and efforts to represent the interest of our community in this important board,” the governor added.
Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider has referred the nomination to the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations chaired by Sen. Frank Q. Cruz.
In an interview on Monday, Cruz said there is no definite date yet as to when they will begin the confirmation process for Cepeda’s nomination because his committee has yet to receive all the required documents from the nominee. But he assured that his committee will act on Cepeda’s nomination.
The current commissioners are chair Jesus I. Sablan, vice chair Doris Ann Aldan-Atalig both of Saipan, Lelanie I. Manglona and Esther Yatar both of Rota, and John Diego Attao of Tinian. There is one vacant seat for Tinian.
