By Bryan Manabat
bryan@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
TINIAN Mayor Edwin P. Aldan said he has no intention of seeking higher office once his second term ends and hopes instead to enjoy what he calls his “second retirement” after more than seven years leading the municipality through natural disasters, federal recovery efforts, and the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I have no plans — no plans at all,” Aldan, a Republican, said. “I leave it to the party. If my service is needed down the line, I’ve always been a party man, and I’ll take it from there. But if not, I would love to enjoy my second retirement.”
Aldan was elected mayor of Tinian and Aguiguan in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, running unopposed. Under CNMI law, mayors are limited to two consecutive four-year terms, making his current term — which ends on Jan. 11, 2027 — his last.
Before becoming mayor, Aldan served as Tinian and Aguiguan’s representative in the 16th, 19th, and 20th Commonwealth Legislatures.
Aldan said his earlier five-year break from government service, during which he worked in the private sector, changed how he views the relationship between government and business.
“That break helped me a lot,” he said. “It broadened my mind. The private sector is not just there to be taxed — they are our partners. Without them, this military base we talk about is nothing.”
He added that the government remains “overloaded” and is still operating as if pre-pandemic revenue levels had returned.
“It’s going to be a tough decision for a lot of our leaders,” Aldan said. “You’ve got to make the cut.”
Advice for the next mayor
Asked what qualities he hopes to see in the next elected mayor, Aldan pointed to the importance of staying engaged with the ongoing military buildup on Tinian and across the CNMI.
“I hope they continue to be open-minded about this military buildup,” he said. “It’s giving a lot of good vibes to our municipality and CNMI-wide. But we need to engage with our elected leaders, especially the Legislature, to look at this buildup carefully.”
Aldan said the involvement of multiple service branches — the Navy, Army, Air Force, and Marines — requires vigilance and coordination.
“You can get caught up focusing on one branch, and then another adds something to the development,” he said. “We need to protect our people and environment and help the economy at the same time.”
Despite the challenges, Aldan said he will fully support whoever succeeds him.
“It’s been a challenge for me, and I hope the next mayor is better,” he said. “I give him all my support — whoever that is.”
Reflecting on his tenure
Aldan said his administration has faced “a lot of things” over more than seven years, including the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu, federal recovery coordination with FEMA and the Department of Defense, and the unprecedented disruptions of Covid-19.
“I’d rather have 10 Yutus than one Covid,” he said. “Covid destroyed not only tourism, but our culture. It changed our lifestyle and our social gatherings in the islands.”
Still, he said Tinian is “more resilient than ever” thanks to federal partnerships and local efforts.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
