IN a recent gubernatorial forum hosted virtually by the Marianas Agupa radio talk show, Independent Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Democratic Precinct 2 Rep. Christina M. Sablan were given five minutes each to answer various questions about their respective platforms if elected governor, including their first 100 days as head of state.
Republican Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, whose running mate is Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan, did not participate in the forum. Variety learned that he was on Tinian to attend a local resident’s funeral.
Palacios, who was Torres’s running mate in the 2018 election, is now running with another former Republican, Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, while Sablan’s running mate is Precinct 5 Rep. Leila H.F. Staffler.
Good governance
Sablan said her administration would create a solid foundation for good governance, restore fiscal responsibility in the CNMI government, and implement programs that invest in each of the villages.
She said it is crucial to have a government that is led by qualified and ethical public servants who truly care about the community.
“So, within the first 100 days, we would have most, if not all of our cabinet positions filled by people who meet the standard,” Sablan said.
She said there would be an application process for appointments.
She would also issue an executive order requiring mandatory training of all cabinet members, board appointees, and employees of the executive branch in government ethics, the Open Government Act, workplace rights, and customer service.
“This is really about beginning the work of making sure that everyone is treated fairly and respectfully when they walk into any government office no matter who they are, and that the public servants that assist them are professional, courteous, and knowledgeable about their jobs,” Sablan said. “Creating a culture of good governance requires investing in the training and professional development of all of our public servants.”
She said the success of these initiatives would be measured by shorter wait times in government offices, improved performance and customer service as reflected in employee evaluation, and empowered citizens who are not afraid to reach out to their government for help.
Fiscal responsibility
As restoring fiscal responsibility in the CNMI government, Sablan said there would be a thorough review of the fiscal condition of the government.
A report would be published online via a government website that is user-friendly and easy to navigate, she said.
“We will prioritize restoring fiscal responsibility in our government,” she added. “Fiscal responsibility really goes hand in hand with public trust. This goal is not going to be realized in just 100 days, but to really move forward as a government and as a community, we need to know where we stand…. I would like to see the financial report completed within the first 100 days, and at least two of our fiscal initiatives fulfilled.”
Sablan said she would also issue an executive order to conduct an energy audit of the government, including buildings and vehicles.
“The government is notoriously the worst [Commonwealth Utilities Corporation] customer and is in debt in the millions of dollars,” she said. “We will set targets for efficiency and we will track our progress and report on that to the people regularly as well.”
She added, “And we will lead by example. Leila and I will never illegally travel first-class at taxpayers’ expense. We will pay our own utility bills, we will drive our own cars, and there will be no reimbursements for personal or political expenses. Public funds are for public purposes.”
Jobs
In their first 100 days, she said the Sablan-Staffler administration would lay down the foundation for a “Marianas Jobs Now” initiative, in which a Small Business Advisory Council will be created to aid in the implementation of local policies for government purchasing and procurement.
“We want to include our community members, our small businesses, our workforce, the people of the Marianas, as key stakeholders in our economy and as beneficiaries of our Commonwealth investment,” she said.
Her administration would also invest in local village efforts, including re-establishing programs in sanitation, education, and the environment throughout the CNMI, she added.
In addition, she said her administration would launch a new Youth Conservation Corps to involve young people in the stewardship of public spaces, beaches, historic sites, parks, and trails.
“In measuring our success, in the first 100 days [of] our administration, we should be able to look around at our villages and see visible changes in the form of cleaner beaches, better maintained public areas and trails, and more community members who are ready and willing to do their part in keeping our Marianas clean, safe, and livable,” Sablan said.
Palacios-Apatang
For his part, the lt. governor said in its first 100 days, the Palacios-Apatang administration would focus on fiscal responsibility and infrastructure recovery.
He said their success would be measured through a performance matrix complete with deadlines, timelines, and milestones.
A report from the transition team would be needed for the first 100 days, detailing the priorities of each department, as well as identifying funds for urgent fiscal matters such as the retirees’ 25% benefit, and the government’s annual budget.
Palacios said it is unfortunate that Governor Torres has submitted a budget that only takes into consideration the first quarter of the next fiscal year, in terms of funding for the retirees.
He hopes that lawmakers would identify funds for the retirees in the FY 2023 budget.
“That’s priority number one. I will commit to putting a lot of effort in working collaboratively with the Legislature to identify a funding source for retirees [and] to address the whole fiscal year 2023… I will work with them collaboratively, no matter the political divide that we seemingly create artificially. I will work collaboratively with them, not in an adversarial manner that we are witnessing today,” Palacios said.
He said his administration would reassess and reevaluate the government’s expenditures and fiscal situation.
“Do we need to resize different departments and hold them accountable? Yes, [and] we will,” Palacios said.
He said his cabinet would be vetted appropriately with strict requirements on necessary credentials, integrity, and drive, regardless of political affiliations.
He said government overspending is an issue, and this includes departments purchasing luxury vehicles while medical referral patients lack basic transportation to access off-island care.
“That’s a travesty…. Today, we have departments, not necessarily departments heads, driving around in V8s. Those costs $60,000. We have department division directors driving around in luxury SUVs, and here we are talking about vehicles for our patients on Guam,” said Palacios.
“In some of these departments actually, to be truthful, they change their cars every six months. So, yes, fiscal responsibility is going to be an issue, too… I know for a fact that I’m probably the most unpopular lt. governor because I’m a fiscal conservative, but I am responsible. I make sure that expenditures are appropriate, proportionate, and address a real need.”
As for infrastructure recovery, Palacios said he has been “taken out” of government communications with federal partners such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency regarding these efforts.
He said he does not have access to the new financial management system implemented by Governor Torres.
Palacios said his administration would “fast-track” infrastructure projects.”
He said there is no reason that schools such as Hopwood are still awaiting repairs for the damage caused by Super Typhoon Yutu in Oct. 2018.
There shouldn’t be several post-Yutu projects that haven’t been executed or implemented, he added.
“That shouldn’t be the case at all,” he said, citing his experiences in managing infrastructure developments as secretary of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources and director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Palacios said he would personally contact the FEMA Region IX office to discuss infrastructure recovery efforts.
He added that these efforts will be measured and reported to the CNMI people, whether projects are on Saipan, Tinian, or Rota.
Crossroads
Rep. Tina Sablan said the CNMI is “at a crossroads.” People, she added, “deserve to have opportunities to hear from all of their candidates so that they can make informed decisions about the direction that they want the Commonwealth to go and the kind of leadership they want to represent.”
She said she and he running mate “are running together…because we love these islands. We hear the sentiments of our people who are yearning for change, and we want change, too. When we talk about change, we’re talking about good governance. That’s what this campaign is really all about.”
She added, “For us, good governance means honesty and fairness in government. It means putting our people first above self-interest… Public servants should know that we will never have to fear losing their jobs because of who they vote for or their political views. We will protect whistleblowers.”
“Good governance also means fiscal responsibility,” Sablan said. “That means using public funds only for public purposes, and prioritizing our precious resources to make investments in our people, their education, their well-being, and our healthcare system, infrastructure and public services that lift everybody up and improve the quality of life for all.”
She said she is for “economic development…that is for the future, for our children, for future generations, for small businesses, for working families, and for our most vulnerable community members. We’re talking about opportunities for everyone to thrive in our community. It means that we make decisions with the future in mind, guided by our values and by our vision for a Commonwealth that is safe, healthy, just. and beautiful.”
She said “this campaign is about more than just the 2022 election. It’s about more than just before yours. This campaign is about planting seeds for the kind of future that we can be proud of, a Commonwealth where everybody can thrive. That’s the kind of leadership that Leila and I offered. And that is the kind of change that we are working for.”
Honest, transparent government
Palacios said he and Mayor Apatang “are thankful to each and every one of you who has inspired us and encouraged us to continue to serve our Commonwealth. Every single day, we hear from our people…. We hear stories of trials, tribulations, and hardships, and yet, every day, we are also inspired by our community’s spirit of perseverance to fight the good fight for our families, for our community, and for our future. Despite all of the hardships that we have and continue to endure, our people’s love for our community continues to inspire us to move forward and to work harder to bring about the enduring inspiration that each of us had when we became a Commonwealth.”
Palacios said all of the Independent candidates, their families, and their supporters stand together to remind the CNMI community of what they envision these islands to be.
“The strength of our islands has always been rooted in what we as a people can achieve together. We are in this together…. Whether it’s trying to get back to good governance, ethical government, or integrity, [it] is a challenge, and it’s going to take all of us together to get there. That is our strength. Our strength is always rooted in our people [and] our experience,” he said.
“Leadership starts from the very top and with your support, Mayor Apatang and I, and all of the Independent candidates, intend to and will be the leaders that our forefathers envisioned and our people need us to be, the leaders that all of our children deserve to have as stewards of their future. At this critical juncture, with your support, our islands can and will be a beacon of shining light, a source of pride, a government that all of our CNMI people can be proud of. We ask each one of you to join us as we build a Commonwealth into the islands that each and every one of us can stand behind and proudly proclaim, ‘Biba Marianas!’ ”
To view a live recording of this forum, visit the Marianas Agupa Show via Facebook or YouTube.
Arnold I. Palacios
Tina Sablan
