“I could not help but admire his commitment to the people of Tinian. He was very firm,” said Reyes who was Adriano’s colleague in the House of Representatives and in the Senate from Jan. 1994 to Jan. 2006.
Although they were close friends, there were times when they disagreed especially on issues that concerned their constituents, said Reyes, R-Saipan.
Adriano, R-Tinian, never gave up pushing issues that benefited the people of Tinian.
Adriano was the first Tinian lawmaker to become Senate president (Jan. 2004-Jan. 2006).
When the annual budget bill was being considered, Reyes said he and Adriano disagreed about many things but at the end of the day, he could not help but admire the late senator’s commitment to the people of Tinian.
Adriano’s loyalty to his people and his party mates earned Reyes’s respect.
Adriano understood fully well the concerns of the people of Tinian, Reyes said.
“He was very loyal, I can say this much because I saw it myself when we became the minority and had differences with the leadership,” Reyes said.
He added that he was fortunate to have known Adriano, whom the Senate president described as a shrewd politician.
“He knew how to treat the persons he worked with,” Reyes said.
He recalled when Adriano decided not to seek reelection in 2005, they continued to work together during the campaign.
Adriano ran for Tinian mayor but narrowly lost to Jose P. San Nicolas of the Covenant Pary.
Adriano, according to Reyes, was a “very colorful guy. He can be serious when he wanted to be and a joker at a times.”
Adriano liked to banter with the legislative staffers, Reyes said.
As a Senate president, he added, Adriano was a strong leader.
“I was a member of the minority at that time when I saw him working well with his leadership,” Reyes said. “I have to admit he was fun to work with and even though we disagreed we maintained our respect for each other.”
Adriano, 49, was found dead on Thursday afternoon in his house in Koblerville.
Police believe he died of natural causes.
