University of Guam nominating council sets Jan. 24 packet deadline, schedules Feb. 6 vote to fill two regent seats

The University of Guam Regent Nominating Council set a Jan. 24 deadline for completed candidate packets and scheduled a special meeting for 10 a.m. Feb. 6 to consider and vote on nominations to fill two upcoming vacancies on the UOG Board of Regents.

The council—created by Public Law 26-24—discussed recruitment status, specific candidate packets and the timeline for sending nomination packets to the governor. A staff member from the president’s office told the council that “the governor did select Regent Edward Ujoa,” and that the legislature held a confirmation hearing and confirmed him Dec. 16, 2024, citing that as an example of the governor’s recent turnaround times on packets.

Why it matters: The board needs enough regents to make quorum for committee and full-board business, council members said. Two regent seats are due to be filled in the near term: one unexpired seat that will run to October 2026 and the seat now held by Board Chair Regent Leslie Leon Guerrero, whose term ends in April. Council members said filling those seats promptly is important because standing committee quorums are already tight and special meetings can be short notice.

Most important decisions and next steps

- Packet deadline and notice: Council staff asked members to submit completed confidential nomination packets by Jan. 24 so the packets can be included in the public notice and agenda for the Feb. 6 meeting. Staff said the council must provide five business days’ public notice before the meeting.

- Special meeting and process: The council scheduled a Feb. 6 special meeting at 10 a.m. to include an executive session to review completed packets and a public voting file. Members discussed the option to recess and reconvene within the meeting if additional time is needed.

- Number of names per vacancy: Council staff reminded members that a packet submitted to fill a given vacancy is separate and that the council may send one to three names per packet; packets for two vacancies can be sent at the same time but are processed separately by the governor’s office.

Discussion highlights and candidate status

Council members reviewed the current candidate pool. Staff reported pending packets from Lee Weber and J. Robert Kelly; packets pending additional letters of recommendation were noted for an unnamed candidate who is reportedly securing outstanding references. Candidates discussed by name included Brent Butler, Christine Valletto (a current Guam Department of Education board member whose eligibility would require resignation from that board), Anita Arriola and Mike Pangolina. Members discussed looking for candidates with legal, investment or legislative experience to complement the existing board’s mix of financial, technical and educational backgrounds.

Council members also discussed that a regent appointed to fill an unexpired term serves only the remainder of that term (the staff member noted the unexpired seat now runs through October 2026) and may later reapply for a full six-year term if they choose.

Administrative and procedural notes

- The staff member said the governor has up to 45 days to act on submitted packets, and cited the recent packet for Regent Edward Ujoa — submitted Oct. 1 and confirmed by the legislature Dec. 16 — as an example of the process and timing.

- Council leadership reviewed current Board of Regents committee assignments and warned that vacancies make achieving quorums for committees difficult; several members urged expedited recruitment to avoid overburdening incumbent regents.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes from Nov. 7, 2024 — Motion to approve the regular meeting minutes: passed by voice vote; individual tallies not recorded.

- Motion to adjourn — Passed by voice vote.

What the council did not decide

The council did not select or forward any nomination packet to the governor at this meeting. Members agreed to continue recruitment and packet gathering, and to meet Feb. 6 for executive-session review and a public vote if sufficient completed packets arrive by the Jan. 24 deadline.

Ending: The council set its next regular meeting date for April 3 and reiterated that packets submitted after Jan. 24 may not make the Feb. 6 agenda; staff said they will continue to circulate confidential packet updates to members by email.