SENATE Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan was unanimously elected as chairman of the 22nd Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation on Wednesday.
Sablan is an independent senator who caucuses with the Republican-led Senate leadership.
Newly elected Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation Chairman Vinnie F. Sablan, center, Vice Chairman Ivan Blanco, right front row and Floor Leader Sheila Babauta, left front row, pose for a photo with other members of the delegation following their organizational session on Wednesday.
Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
For the vice chair position, Republican Ivan Blanco defeated Democratic Sen. Edith Deleon Guerrero 12 to 9.
Those who voted for Blanco were Sablan, Speaker Edmund Villagomez, Vice Speaker Blas Jonathan Attao, House Floor Leader Ralph N. Yumul, Reps. Roy Ada, Joel Camacho, Angel Demapan, Joseph Flores, Joseph Leepan Guerrero, John Paul Sablan, Senate Vice President Justo Quitugua and Blanco himself.
Those who voted for Deleon Guerrero were Reps. Celina Babauta, Sheila Babauta, Vicente Camacho, Richard Lizama, Edwin Propst, Leila Staffler, Denita Yangetmai, Tina Sablan and Senator Deleon Guerrero herself.
Also by a vote 12 to 9, Democratic Rep. Sheila Babauta defeated Republican Rep. John Paul Sablan for the floor leadership.
Those who voted for Rep. Sheila Babauta were Speaker Edmund Villagomez, House Floor Leader Ralph Yumul, Reps. Celina Babauta, Sheila Babauta, Vicente Camacho, Richard Lizama, Edwin Propst, Tina Sablan, Leila Staffler, Denita Yangetmai, Chairman Vinnie Sablan and Sen. Edith Deleon Guerrero.
Those who voted for John Paul Sablan were Vice Speaker Attao, Reps. Ada, Blanco, Joel Camacho, Angel Demapan, Flores, Leepan Guerrero, John Paul Sablan and Senate Vice President Justo Quitugua.
The delegation consists of 21 members: the 18 House members and three senators representing Saipan and the Northern Islands in the Legislature.
