TINIAN — During an organizational meeting on Friday, the 19th Tinian Municipal Council elected its new officers.
Incumbent councilman Joseph Romaldo Evangelista Santos was elected as chair, Ana Marie Cruz San Nicolas as vice chair, and third-term councilman Estevan Pangelinan Cabrera as secretary.
All three were first sworn in on Saipan on Jan. 9, then sworn in for the first time in their municipality on Friday. Justice Perry B. Inos administered the oath-taking
“It’s an honor to be elected chair. This will be my second term, and I’m honored that my colleagues gave me their trust to lead the council in this term,” Santos told reporters on Friday.
He said the issues that have carried over from his first term relate to disaster recovery, the American Rescue Plan Act funds, and growing the island economy.
“We’re trying to see how we can work together with the mayor [and] the Tinian [legislative] delegation in [rebuilding] the economy for the island of Tinian,” he added.
Santos decided to run for a second term because he was not satisfied with his first term.
“I know I did enough, but I think I’m still not done. I still want to complete what my first plan was: building more programs for the youth, for our manamko’, and for the island of Tinian,” he said.
Santos served in the U.S. Army as an active and Reserve member for two decades. Since his retirement, he has served as a Tinian police officer and Covid-19 Task Force operations coordinator. He is married to Frances Anne and together they have four children.
To do her best
Vice chair San Nicolas, for her part, said when she ran for office, she didn’t think she would win.
“But now that I am in, my job is to do my best to try and work with other people, with other elected officials, to improve our community,” she said.
San Nicolas is married to former Sen. Henry H. San Nicolas, and together they have four children. She has served in numerous capacities, including as resident department head for Tinian’s Department of Community and Cultural Affairs. She is presently the coordinator of Tinian’s Office on Aging.
Getting the job done
In his inaugural address to the people of Tinian on Friday, Cabrera, the council’s newly elected secretary who has previously served on the 13th and 14th Tinian Municipal Councils, said he considered chairing the council, but decided not to. “It’s not about position, but being united and getting the job done,” he said.
“When I first decided to make another run for the municipal council office, the first thing that came to my mind was how the past Tinian leadership has always been united in everything they do and getting the job done for our beautiful island. With my passion to serve the public and now being a part of the present municipal leadership, I have no doubt that we will continue to see a unified stance,” he said.
Quoting a joint statement issued by Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, Cabrera said, “The time has come for all of us to move forward together.”
Cabrera is married to Maria Editha, and is the current deputy director of Tinian’s Department of Lands and Natural Resources. He is also the former deputy director of Tinian’s Department of Public Works.
19th Municipal Council chair Joseph Romaldo Evangelista Santos, far left, vice chair Ana Marie Cruz San Nicolas, third left, and secretary Estevan Pangelinan Cabrera, second right, take their oaths of office, administered by Justice Perry B. Inos, back facing camera. The councilmembers’ spouses hold their Bibles, while master of ceremonies Eric J. Reyes, second left, holds a microphone for the councilmembers. The inaugural ceremony was held Friday, Jan. 13 at the main pavilion of Jones Beach in San Jose, Tinian.
Newly elected Tinian Municipal Council secretary Estevan Pangelinan Cabrera, right, and his wife, Maria Editha, wave at the crowd during the inaugural ceremony Friday on Tinian.
Newly elected Tinian Municipal Council vice chair Ana Marie Cruz San Nicolas, right, and her husband, former Sen. Henry H. San Nicolas, wave at the crowd during the inaugural ceremony Friday on Tinian.
Newly elected Tinian Municipal Council chair Joseph Romaldo Evangelista Santos gives his inaugural address Friday on Tinian.
