Rota Legislative Delegation adopts rules, elects leadership

The Rota Legislative Delegation unanimously adopted its official rules of procedure and elected its leadership during an organizational session Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.

The action set the delegation’s operating rules and selected a leadership team that delegation members said will coordinate municipal funding requests and liaison work with local officials. "As we move forward, we'll continue the collaboration with our municipal leaders in pushing forth the initiatives that we have for our people of Rota," said Senator Donald Manglona after his election as chairman.

The session opened at 9:35 a.m. with the four delegation members present. Floor leader pro tem Donna Manglona moved to adopt Rota Legislative Delegation Resolution No. 25-01, described in the meeting as the delegation’s official rules of procedure; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote with all four members voting yes. The transcript contains multiple, inconsistent references to the resolution number (including variants recorded as 24-01 and 20-4-01); the motion was recorded in the minutes as adopted.

On leadership, Senator Dennis Mendiola nominated Senator Donald Manglona for chairman; the nomination was seconded, nominations were closed, and a roll-call vote recorded all four members voting yes. Senator Ron Cabo was nominated and confirmed as vice chair by unanimous roll call. Representative Julie Marie Ogo was nominated and confirmed as the delegation’s floor leader, and Senator Dennis Mendiola was confirmed as legislative secretary; each election was recorded as unanimous (4–0) on the roll calls.

Members used the post-election remarks to describe near-term priorities. Senator Manglona said the delegation has already received multiple requests from departments and municipal leaders for funding and assistance and noted a specific local revenue concern: "One of our only sources of income in the meantime, which is the poker fees, has been affected due to the closure of one of the establishments," which he said could hinder programs such as the municipal scholarship. The delegation said it expects a budget revision in the coming weeks and plans outreach to the mayor and municipal leaders to discuss requests and potential revenue measures.

The delegation took a short recess for notifications to the House speaker, Senate president and governor; the chair said those notifications would be carried out by memorandum. The session closed at 10:04 a.m. after a motion to adjourn was made and seconded.

Votes at a glance

- Adoption of Rota Legislative Delegation Resolution No. 25-01 (official rules of procedure): adopted, roll call 4–0 yes. (Moved by Floor leader Pro Tem Donna Manglona; second recorded.) - Election of Chairman: Senator Donald Manglona nominated by Senator Dennis Mendiola; elected, roll call 4–0 yes. - Election of Vice Chair: Senator Ron Cabo nominated (nominator not specified in the transcript); elected, roll call 4–0 yes. - Election of Floor Leader: Representative Julie Marie Ogo nominated (nominator not specified in the transcript); elected, roll call 4–0 yes. - Election of Legislative Secretary: Senator Dennis Mendiola nominated (nominator recorded); elected, roll call 4–0 yes.

The session also included administrative announcements, including a planned follow-up meeting to consider a communication from the group referred to in the transcript as "Tara MD."