Anthony P. Benavente, the vice chair of Guam’s Civil Service Commission, appeared before the Legislature’s Committee on Finance and Government Operations on Nov. 17 to request reconfirmation to the seven-member commission.

Benavente — a former Department of Administration human-resources official and Guam Community College HR administrator — described his three years serving a vacancy on the commission and asked lawmakers for a six‑year reconfirmation so he could continue overseeing merit-system appeals and grievances. "I remain committed to upholding the integrity and objectives of the board, ensuring fair and impartial reviews," Benavente said in his opening remarks.

Supporters who stood before the committee described Benavente as experienced, careful and independent. Daniel Longra, executive director of the Civil Service Commission, said Benavente brought "a high level of skill, thoroughness and ethical decision making" to the board. Fred Nishihara, the commission’s administrative counsel, testified Benavente "listens, asks the right questions and truly tries to balance the needs of both employees and management." The endorsements emphasized Benavente’s years of training in labor relations, EEO, ADA, FLSA and related employment law.

Senators probed Benavente on procedural and ethical matters. Ranking Member Tina Muni Barnes asked whether he had completed the statutorily required ethics training; Benavente said he had recently renewed the course after learning it had expired. Several senators pushed him on how he balances empathy for employees with strict rule application and whether he had been approached to influence decisions in pending cases; Benavente denied being pressured and said he learns to "politely sidestep" public comment when cases are active.

On policy, Benavente identified training and outdated implementing rules as recurring problems. He noted a concrete discrepancy he said remains in practice: "In the current rules ... it still says 60 days," he told the committee, "but the law was changed to 90 days." He urged more consistent orientation and supervisory training so managers better understand grievance and adverse‑action procedures.

Committee members praised Benavente’s institutional knowledge and said they would move his packet quickly. The chair indicated the reconfirmation would be processed promptly and could be scheduled for the January session if necessary. No formal confirmation vote was recorded at the hearing.

What’s next: The committee will act on Benavente’s paperwork and report the nomination to the full Legislature according to its schedule.