SAIPAN Mayor David M. Apatang said although he is not currently endorsing any of the mayoral candidates for the 2022 elections, he will probably support whoever the CNMI Republican Party nominates.
A Republican, Apatang’s second term as mayor will end in January 2023. He is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term.
Thus far, Republican Rep. Joseph Leepan T. Guerrero and Ramon Blas “RB” Camacho, who ran as an Independent in 2018, have both publicly expressed their interest in running for Saipan mayor.
Mayor Apatang said that he does not believe it to be fair for him to endorse either of them at this point because they are both good friends of his.
He did, however, encourage each candidate to listen to the people, and to place great emphasis on serving the people and putting their interests first.
“That is why you are here. You work for them,” he said.
He noted that even today, some Saipan community members are still in need of assistance following the typhoons that hit the CNMI during his term.
He noted that he is the only Saipan mayor to have endured two typhoons that made landfall on island — Yutu in 2018 and Soudelor in 2015.
He said he is proud of his staff for working hard, day in and day out, for the community.
“We have hardworking staff here in this office, and they work hard for our taxpayers,” he added.
His office has experienced much growth, he added, noting that when he was first sworn in, there was no equipment other than some rundown trucks.
One of his first acts as mayor was to apply for grants to obtain equipment and trucks for the office to fulfill its duties to the Saipan community.
“The next mayor…will have all the equipment here now,” Apatang said.
He is hoping that his successor will “devote his or her time in listening to our people because [there are] a lot of them that need help.”
In the meantime, Apatang said, while he is still mayor, he will continue to fulfill his duties and responsibilities to the people of Saipan.
“I committed myself after I retired from the military to come back and work for the people and I’m still working for them…. It’s been very challenging, but I remain committed to working for the people until my last day. I don’t know what I’m going to do afterwards…but we’ll see,” he said.
Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang in his conference room on Friday.
Photo by K-Andrea Evarose S. Limol
