THE 22nd Legislature will convene on Wednesday, Aug. 4, to adopt Joint Resolution 22-2 commending the life and legacy of the late Rep. Ivan James Alafanso Blanco.
Lawmakers will also adopt Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez’ J.R. 22-1, which sets the rules for a joint session.
Once the joint session rules are adopted, the 22nd Legislature will move to adopt J.R. 22-2 to pay tribute to Blanco who passed away on July 23, 2021 at the age of 44.
Co-sponsored by Reps. Joel Camacho, Tina Sablan, Edwin Propst, Celina Babauta, Ralph Yumul, Speaker Villagomez and Sen. Vinnie Vinson F. Sablan, the resolution mentions Blanco’s numerous services to the public from 2007 when the late representative began his professional career as an auditor for the Federated States of Micronesia.
His service to the CNMI government began in 2010 as director of the Central Statistics Division of the Department of Commerce, then, as its deputy secretary.
He also served as the grants manager in the Office of Grants Management before he was appointed special assistant for communications and protocol.
A Republican, Blanco was elected Precinct 3 representative in 2016 and chaired the 20th House Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operations.
He was reelected in 2018 and chaired the 21st House Committee on Ways and Means.
After he was elected again in 2020, he served as the House minority leader.
The joint resolution also recognizes Blanco’s most notable contributions to his community. These include serving on the board of directors of the Developmental Disabilities Council, assisting in reviving the ACH Chuuk-CNMI Association and serving as its vice president as well as organizing numerous community events and fundraising efforts to assist citizens of the Freely Associated States of Micronesia.
He also fulfilled a lifelong dream when he and his son Kideichi participated in the XII Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture as members of the CNMI seafaring delegation under the guidance of Master Navigator Cesario Sewralur, sailing a double hull canoe from Saipan to Guam and back.
As an avid agriculturist, Blanco championed many causes to promote food security and sustainability, serving as vice president of the 35th Saipan Agriculture Fair Association, actively participating in the Kagman Commercial Farm Plot meetings, and helping launch the CNMI Breadfruit Initiative Project, which culminated in the establishment of a nursery that consisted of groves of ma‘afala trees in 2018.
Ivan Blanco
