THE Senate on Thursday unanimously voted to confirm the nomination of Tinian fire inspector Jonathan Christopher A. Manglona to the Commonwealth Election Commission board.
Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider presided over the session at the Tinian Court House where Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan, Sens. Francisco Q. Cruz, Victor B. Hocog, and Karl King-Nabors attended in person, while Senate Vice President Justo S. Quitugua, Sens. Edith Deleon Guerrero, Paul A. Manglona, and Teresita A. Santos appeared virtually.
In Committee Report 22-92, the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations, chaired by Senator Cruz, recommended Jonathan Manglona’s confirmation.
“Your committee has examined all pertinent documents relating to the executive appointment of Mr. Manglona’s overall credentials to serve on the Commonwealth Election Commission,” Cruz said.
“Based on the overall assessment of Mr. Manglona’s credentials, experiences, testimony, goals for the agency, and other relevant issues considered, your committee is convinced that Mr. Manglona has the qualifications and leadership skills needed to serve on the election commission.”
Ten oral testimonies and one written testimony were in support of the nominee, with no testimonies in opposition.
Earlier that day, the Senate EAGI Committee conducted a public hearing on the governor’s nominee.
Senate President Hofschneider, Senate Floor Leader Sablan, Sens. Cruz, Hocog, and King-Nabors were all present for the hearing, as well as members of the CEC board, CEC Executive Director Kayla S. Igitol, Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan, and the general public.
After taking an oath, the nominee gave a brief testimony.
“I bring integrity, commitment, and trust, the same way I served our community as a firefighter and [emergency medical technician]… I am once again committed to learn and serve our community the best way that I can,” Jonathan Manglona said.
Tinian Mayor Aldan provided testimony in full support of the nominee, saying that Manglona “continues to be a proactive worker to this day in our community.”
“This proactiveness, which can be determined by [his] early career as a loan tenure public relations officer and VIP host of the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino. With his early start in public relations, [he] garnered a handful of vital skills and experience which include building and maintaining a positive environment for employees; good communication skills in press, meetings, and all social media [platforms]; creative mind to think outside of the box for new and innovative ideas to benefit the organization as a whole, staying focused on not only his duties, but the duties of others as a whole, to ensure that no mistakes are being made,” Aldan said.
“Looking back at [his] career, it is evident that he has experience serving his community. I am confident that he will be a great representative as a Commonwealth Election Commission board [member] with the knowledge and skills he has gained from prior experiences… I believe that he will be a great addition to the team.”
CEC Executive Director Igitol was also in favor of confirming the nominee.
“As the 2022 general election is right around the corner, it is very important and crucial that we have Mr. Manglona confirmed to the [CEC] board, to ensure that CEC meets and maintains quorum requirements. I look forward to working with Mr. Manglona to uphold CEC’s mission to a fair, honest, orderly, and impartial election, most especially as we approach the 2022 general election. I respectfully seek this honorable body to act on Mr. Manglona’s nomination, and expedite his confirmation as the election is only five days away,” Igitol said.
For his part, CEC Board Chair Jesus I. Sablan said, “To be honest with you, I don’t really know Mr. Manglona personally, but I will once you confirm him. It is critical that you confirm him.”
He noted that Tinian was only represented by one board member, John Diego Attao.
“We need one representative from Tinian, one from Rota, and at least five members to have a quorum, so it’s critical that we have him onboard. At this point in time, we only have six members. One of our members will be leaving sometime, most likely, and hopefully not, before the election, so it’s critical that we have him onboard. If that member leaves before the election, then it will come down to five members,” Sablan said.
“If the representative from Tinian does not make it to election day, then the election will be jeopardized, so in lieu of that, I am humbly requesting for your favorable consideration in confirming him. Like I said earlier, I don’t personally know him, but I will once you confirm him.”
The other members of the nine-seat election commission are vice chair Esther Yatar and Lelanie I. Manglona from Rota; and Doris Ann Aldan Atalig and Police Lt. Jesus S. Cepeda from Saipan and the Northern Islands.
