Rota Mayor Melchor A. Mendiola bested Tinian’s Ramon M. Dela Cruz for the position of president.
Other positions were automatically assumed by nominees for lack of opposition. Sinajana Vice Mayor Roque Blas is now the association’s vice president; Ordot-Chalan Pago Mayor Gus Gogue, secretary; Yigo Mayor Robert Lizama treasurer; and Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council member Ramon Camacho, sergeant-at-arms.
“The new members are excited,” Lizama said, emphasizing the importance of them being in contact and working together. “We can learn from them and they can learn from us,” he said of the diverse group of village leaders.
Mendiola and Camacho expressed their feelings about the gathering in positive tones.
“It’s very nice and very important for all the local leaders to get together,” Camacho said. “This group will brain storm the issues affecting the Marianas and what the local mayors can do. I really enjoy this group.”
Mendiola, who lived on Guam before moving to Rota in 1981, agreed.
“The fruit of this organization is it gives an opportunity for all the elected leaders in the level of council and municipal to try and organize ourselves within the Marianas to exchange ideas and share ideas for the common good respective to the military relocation. This is something we have to work together especially since it will impact the Marianas as a whole,” said the Rota mayor.
The organization also discussed several items on its agenda including $5,000 in scholarship grants for students attending colleges in the CNMI and on Guam.
According to Lizama, $2,000 was allocated for Guam while the CNMI will get $3,000, or $1,000 each for Saipan, Tinian and Rota. To qualify, the students must have a grade point average of 3.0 and be taking classes full-time.
