The members of the 24th Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation pose for photo at the conclusion of their organizational session on Friday.
REPRESENTATIVE John Paul P. Sablan on Friday retained the chairmanship of the Saipan and the Northern Islands Legislative Delegation.
Sen. Celina R. Babauta and Rep. Joel Camacho were elected vice chair and floor leader, respectively.
It was Rep. Blas Jonathan T. Attao who nominated Sablan to chair the SNILD. After Rep. Malcolm Omar moved to close the nomination, Sablan was elected by acclamation.
Rep. Diego Vincent F. Camacho then nominated Babauta to be the vice chair, while Omar nominated Rep. Joel Camacho to be the floor leader. Both were also elected by acclamation.
In his acceptance speech, Sablan thanked his fellow delegation members “for your vote of confidence to serve as your chairman. I am truly honored and grateful for the overwhelming support to be your chair.”
Sablan pledged to do his best and “to continue addressing the many challenges we face moving forward [in] our Third Senatorial District, which encompasses the people of Saipan and the Northern Islands.”
He also welcomed Saipan Mayor Ramon Blas “RB” Camacho, Northern Islands Mayor Valentino Taisakan, Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council member Carmen Cabrera, and former Rep. Sheila Babauta, who were present in the gallery.
The new SNILD leadership will soon announce the committee chairmanships.
On Monday, Sen. Celina R. Babauta, who was tasked to lead the team that will select the committee chairs, said the list will be announced as soon as it is finalized. She said they will offer committee seats to other interested delegation members, including those in the minority bloc.
Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation Chairman, John Paul P. Sablan, center, with Sen. Celina R. Babauta, right, the delegation vice chair, and Rep. Joel Camacho, the floor leader, during an organizational session on Friday in the House chamber.
