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Community leaders and board staff testify in support of Peter Frius for Guam Contractor’s Licensing Board
Summary
The Guam Legislature committee heard multiple endorsements June 9 for Peter Frius, the governor’s nominee for the general‑public seat on the Contractor’s Licensing Board. Supporters cited his 30‑plus years of fire service, municipal planning council work and volunteerism; senators questioned his readiness to enforce licensing rules and urged transparency.
The Committee on Land, Environment, Housing, Agriculture, Parks and Infrastructure heard June 9 public testimony backing Peter B. Frius for the general‑public seat on the Guam Contractor’s Licensing Board.
Francis Lzama, who identified himself as a mayor, told the committee he had known Frius three years and described him as “community‑minded” with a long record of volunteer work, municipal planning council service and a career as a Guam Fire Department lieutenant. JP Ugan, identified as executive director of the Contractor’s Licensing Board, described Frius’s public‑safety credentials and volunteer roles during typhoon recovery and recommended confirmation. Former mayor Robert Lzama also urged the committee to confirm Frius, citing his steady attendance at local planning meetings and hands‑on recovery work.
“I strongly believe he will bring sound judgment, integrity, and a sincere sense of public responsibility to any role he undertakes,” Francis Lzama said in support of the nomination.
Frius, who told senators he will officially retire from the fire department July 25, said he would “listen and share my views” from his public‑safety experience. “I’m not dead yet,” he remarked, drawing laughter from the committee as he described his decision to seek post‑retirement public service.
Committee members probed how Frius would handle contractor‑related enforcement questions and protect consumers. Senator Gumatau noted that the Contractor’s Licensing Board plays a different, more active role than many commissions and asked whether Frius had seen examples of construction defects in his firefighting career. Frius replied he had, citing improperly installed electrical panels and fire‑rating issues that had contributed to structure fires.
Several senators emphasized the need for independence and transparency on the board. One senator urged Frius to “learn the rules for yourself” and assess complaints independently; another asked him to advocate for better public information about contractor violations and outcomes.
There was no committee vote during the hearing. The chair said the committee would move Mr. Frius’s confirmation packet forward to the next step of the legislative process.
