THE Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council should have a closer relationship with the Saipan Mayor’s Office, council member Danny Aquino said.
Aquino, who also serves as executive director of the NMI Museum of History and Culture, is running for a seat on the council. He was appointed to the council last year by Saipan Mayor David Apatang because there were only two individuals — Ana D. Castro and Antonia M. Tudela — who ran for the council, which has three seats.
The CNMI Constitution allows the mayor to fill a vacancy on the nonpartisan council with the consent and approval of the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation.
In this year’s election Tudela is seeking reelection while Castro is seeking a Precinct 3 House seat.
Aquino said, if elected to the council, he plans to have a dialogue with the new mayor, the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation and nonprofit organizations.
He wants the council to have a “greater impact on the villages through collaborative efforts.”
“Under my leadership, I want the municipal council to be directly involved in every village either through beautification or health wellness programs,” Aquino said.
He has been involved in islandwide beautification activities, including the ground maintenance of tourist sites through the collaborative efforts of the Saipan Mayor’s Office and the Department of Public Works.
He said James Macaranas and Wenny Haruo assist him in maintaining the roadside vegetation on Middle Road, Capital Hill, Isa Drive, the Children’s Park in Koblerville, the Francisco “Tan Ko” Baseball Field, the Ada gym soccer field, the Cow Town motocross race track and Sugar King Park to name a few.
As executive director of the NMI Museum of History and Culture, Aquino has overseen its repairs and transformation, including its successful outdoor events, which include a Halloween event with the Rotary Club of Saipan that drew over 2,000 people, the weekly Fiesta Friday activities and the annual Easter egg hunt.
Aquino said he is a hard worker and loves serving the people of the CNMI.
Danny Aquino
