Senate committee hears reappointment bid of Merced M. Tomakani to NMHC board

Merced M. Tomakani, the governor and lieutenant governor's nominee to serve another term on the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation (NMHC) board representing the 3rd Senatorial District, told the Senate standing committee on executive appointments on Nov. 13 that her top priorities are expanding affordable housing, strengthening disaster recovery and improving housing-related public health.

"My primary objective will be to increase the availability of low income housing thereby expanding affordable options for local families," Tomakani said in an opening statement to the committee. She told senators that more than 22% of renters in the Commonwealth pay over 30% of their income for rent and described a multi-pronged approach to address housing supply, habitability and resilience.

Tomakani outlined the agency's work under Community Development Block Grant — Disaster Recovery (CDBG‑DR) funding, saying a total award of $254,324,000 was allocated to the Commonwealth and that "$77,241,334 was designated for housing related activities" and "$36,121,337 for affordable rental housing." She said 183 of 262 homebuyer new-construction and rehabilitation projects have been completed and that $63,812,045 has been disbursed to date.

Committee members pressed Tomakani and NMHC management on implementation details. Senators asked how the agency handled the program's original loan-plus-grant design and why many applicants received grants after an initial loan structure. Tomakani and NMHC staff said the board converted the program to direct grants after discussions with the federal grantor and because of a substantial waiting list of applicants; they acknowledged some application- and outreach-related follow-up remains to be documented for the committee.

NMHC corporate director Jeannie Mofnes and vice chair Vina Saris Adudu delivered oral testimony in support of Tomakani, citing her 16 years on the NMHC board, familiarity with HUD processes and leadership during the CDBG‑DR rollout. Mofnes said she "wholeheartedly endorse[s]" the nomination and praised Tomakani's institutional knowledge and emphasis on client advocacy.

Tomakani also described a new Inclusive Living Program the board created to fund restroom rehabilitation and the installation of 1,000‑gallon reserve water tanks for elderly and disability‑affected residents; she said the program will be funded from NMHC rental revenues and that initial program funding started at approximately $600,000 and is being reconciled. When asked whether the Inclusive Living Program is a loan or a grant, she replied, "It's gonna be a grant."

Senators raised recurring concerns about high construction and materials costs, HUD fair-market rents, and long Section 8 waiting lists. NMHC officials said Section 8 waiting lists had been purged annually and estimated current active lists at roughly 200–300 households; NMHC also said it is using HOME‑ARP funds (about $1,600,000) and other temporary rental-assistance tools to reach more families but noted most housing allocations remain constrained by HUD annual allocations.

Committee members also queried NMHC about property-management options for NMHC-owned annex units and whether the agency could sell or repurpose prime properties to reinvest proceeds. NMHC testified that disposal is constrained by a public law requiring sales be based on total liability rather than market appraisal and that management will research titles and return with details.

NMHC noted other resources and projects intended to reduce operating costs and strengthen resilience, including a $3,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank grant allocated for improvement of Blue Bay (Leeville) units in Rota and pilot solar and mitigation measures funded by HMGP for some assisted units.

Multiple members of the public — including former colleagues, family members and local business owners — offered oral testimony in support of Tomakani. The clerk reported six additional written testimonies in support and no written opposition had been received by the committee.

No confirmation vote took place at the hearing. Chairman Senator Francisco Q. Cruz said the committee will include all oral and written testimony in its standing-committee report and forward the record to the full Senate for consideration. The committee adjourned after the hearing.