THE election for the nonpartisan municipal councils of Saipan and the Northern Islands, Tinian, and Rota ended with most incumbents running unopposed.
Each council has three members.
Saipan and Northern Islands Council Chair Marian DLG Tudela received 6,190 votes; Secretary Carmen Pangelinan, 6,138; and Vice Chair Antonia Tudela, 6,108 votes. They ran unopposed.
Also running unopposed were their counterparts on Tinian: Vice Chair Ana Marie C. San Nicolas, who garnered 737 votes; Chair Joseph Romaldo E. Santos, 711 votes; and Secretary Estevan P. Cabrera, 705 votes.
On Rota, the municipal council will have two new members: Sandra Masga, who received 835 votes, and Tillie Taimanao, who garnered 823 votes. Council Secretary Jonovan Lizama was the top vote-getter with 950, but Chair Jim Atalig placed fourth with 600 votes. Vice Chair Frederick A. Manglona Jr. did not seek re-election.
Under Article VI Section 6 of the CNMI Constitution, the municipal councils’ responsibilities include assisting the mayor in budget formulations that delineate local needs, and approving reprogramming of funds in the approved budget. When a mayor is unable to perform his or her duties due to physical or mental disability, “the presiding officer of the municipal council shall be acting mayor.”
